Debian DSA-054-1 : cron - local root exploit

high Nessus Plugin ID 14891

Synopsis

The remote Debian host is missing a security-related update.

Description

A recent (fall 2000) security fix to cron introduced an error in giving up privileges before invoking the editor. This was discovered by Sebastian Krahmer from SuSE. A malicious user could easily gain root access.

Solution

This has been fixed in version 3.0pl1-57.3 (or 3.0pl1-67 for unstable). No exploits are known to exist, but we recommend that you upgrade your cron packages immediately.

See Also

http://www.debian.org/security/2001/dsa-054

Plugin Details

Severity: High

ID: 14891

File Name: debian_DSA-054.nasl

Version: 1.16

Type: local

Agent: unix

Published: 9/29/2004

Updated: 1/4/2021

Supported Sensors: Frictionless Assessment Agent, Nessus Agent, Agentless Assessment, Nessus

Risk Information

VPR

Risk Factor: Medium

Score: 6.7

CVSS v2

Risk Factor: High

Base Score: 7.2

Vector: CVSS2#AV:L/AC:L/Au:N/C:C/I:C/A:C

Vulnerability Information

CPE: p-cpe:/a:debian:debian_linux:cron, cpe:/o:debian:debian_linux:2.2

Required KB Items: Host/local_checks_enabled, Host/Debian/release, Host/Debian/dpkg-l

Patch Publication Date: 5/7/2001

Reference Information

CVE: CVE-2001-0559

DSA: 054