1. Ubuntu Security Notices
  2. USN-1065-1

USN-1065-1: shadow vulnerability

Publication date

15 February 2011

Overview

Newline injection possible into /etc/passwd

Releases

Packages

Details

Kees Cook discovered that some shadow utilities did not correctly validate
user input. A local attacker could exploit this flaw to inject newlines into
the /etc/passwd file. If the system was configured to use NIS, this could
lead to existing NIS groups or users gaining or losing access to the system,
resulting in a denial of service or unauthorized access.

Kees Cook discovered that some shadow utilities did not correctly validate
user input. A local attacker could exploit this flaw to inject newlines into
the /etc/passwd file. If the system was configured to use NIS, this could
lead to existing NIS groups or users gaining or losing access to the system,
resulting in a denial of service or unauthorized access.

Update instructions

In general, a standard system update will make all the necessary changes.

Learn more about how to get the fixes.

The problem can be corrected by updating your system to the following package versions:

Ubuntu Release Package Version
9.10 karmic passwd –  1:4.1.4.1-1ubuntu2.2
10.10 maverick passwd –  1:4.1.4.2-1ubuntu3.2
10.04 lucid passwd –  1:4.1.4.2-1ubuntu2.2

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References

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