Debian DSA-122-1 : zlib - malloc error (double free)

high Nessus Plugin ID 14959

Synopsis

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

Description

The compression library zlib has a flaw in which it attempts to free memory more than once under certain conditions. This can possibly be exploited to run arbitrary code in a program that includes zlib. If a network application running as root is linked to zlib, this could potentially lead to a remote root compromise. No exploits are known at this time. This vulnerability is assigned the CVE candidate name of CAN-2002-0059.

The zlib vulnerability is fixed in the Debian zlib package version 1.1.3-5.1. A number of programs either link statically to zlib or include a private copy of zlib code. These programs must also be upgraded to eliminate the zlib vulnerability. The affected packages and fixed versions follow :

- amaya 2.4-1potato1
- dictd 1.4.9-9potato1

- erlang 49.1-10.1

- freeamp 2.0.6-2.1

- mirrordir 0.10.48-2.1

- ppp 2.3.11-1.5

- rsync 2.3.2-1.6

- vrweb 1.5-5.1

Those using the pre-release (testing) version of Debian should upgrade to zlib 1.1.3-19.1 or a later version. Note that since this version of Debian has not yet been released it may not be available immediately for all architectures. Debian 2.2 (potato) is the latest supported release.


We recommend that you upgrade your packages immediately. Note that you should restart all programs that use the shared zlib library in order for the fix to take effect. This is most easily done by rebooting the system.

Solution

Upgrade the affected zlib package.

See Also

http://www.debian.org/security/2002/dsa-122

Plugin Details

Severity: High

ID: 14959

File Name: debian_DSA-122.nasl

Version: 1.18

Type: local

Agent: unix

Published: 9/29/2004

Updated: 1/4/2021

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

Risk Information

VPR

Risk Factor: Medium

Score: 5.9

CVSS v2

Risk Factor: High

Base Score: 7.5

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

Vulnerability Information

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

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

Patch Publication Date: 3/11/2002

Reference Information

CVE: CVE-2002-0059

DSA: 122