Red Hat Linux tcpdump fails to drop permissions
| tcpdump-drop-permissions-failure (12013) |  High Risk |
Description:
The tcpdump utility as packaged in Red Hat Linux could allow an attacker to obtain root privileges, caused by a compilation error. Unless the '-U' flag is enabled, tcpdump fails to drop permissions to the pcap user and the utility runs as root.
Platforms Affected:
- RedHat, Enterprise Linux 2.1 ES
- RedHat, Enterprise Linux 2.1 AW
- RedHat, Enterprise Linux 2.1 WS
- RedHat, Enterprise Linux 2.1 AS
- RedHat, Linux 7
- RedHat, Linux 7.1
- RedHat, Linux 7.1 for iSeries
- RedHat, Linux 7.1 for pSeries
- RedHat, Linux 7.2
- RedHat, Linux 7.3
- RedHat, Linux 8.0
- RedHat, Linux 9.0
- RedHat, Linux Advanced Workstation 2.1 Itanium
Remedy:
For Red Hat Linux:
Upgrade to the latest tcpdump package, as listed below. RHSA-2003:174-04 for more information. See References.
Red Hat 7.2: 3.6.3-17.7.2.3 or later
Red Hat 7.3: 3.6.3-17.7.3.3 or later
Red Hat 8.0: 3.6.3-17.8.0.3 or later
Red Hat 9: 3.7.2-1.9.1 or later
For Red Hat Linux containing the tcpdump package:
Upgrade to the latest tcpdump package, as listed below. Refer to RHSA-2003:151-098 for more information. See References.
Red Hat Enterprise Linux AS (v. 2.1), ES (v. 2.1), WS (v. 2.1): 3.6.2-12.2.1AS.4 or later
Advanced Workstation 2.1 for the Itanium Processor: 3.6.2-12.2.1AS.4 or later
For other distributions:
Contact your vendor for upgrade or patch information.
Consequences:
Gain Privileges
References:
- CIAC Information Bulletin N-097, Red Hat Updated Tcpdump Packages at http://www.ciac.org/ciac/bulletins/n-097.shtml.
- BID-7606: Red Hat Linux tcpdump Privilege Retention Weakness
- CVE-2003-0194: tcpdump does not properly drop privileges to the pcap user when starting up.
- RHSA-2003-151: tcpdump security update
- RHSA-2003-174: Updated tcpdump packages fix privilege dropping error
- RHSA-2003-214: Updated tcpdump packages fix various vulnerabilities
Reported:
May 15, 2003
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