[ GLSA 200409-02 ] MySQL: Insecure temporary file creation in mysqlhotcopy

[Thierry Carrez <koon@xxxxxxxxxx>]

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Gentoo Linux Security Advisory                           GLSA 200409-02
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                                            http://security.gentoo.org/
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  Severity: Normal
     Title: MySQL: Insecure temporary file creation in mysqlhotcopy
      Date: September 01, 2004
      Bugs: #60744
        ID: 200409-02

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Synopsis
========

The mysqlhotcopy utility can create temporary files with predictable
paths, allowing an attacker to use a symlink to trick MySQL into
overwriting important data.

Background
==========

MySQL is a popular open-source multi-threaded, multi-user SQL database
server.

Affected packages
=================

    -------------------------------------------------------------------
     Package       /  Vulnerable  /                         Unaffected
    -------------------------------------------------------------------
  1  dev-db/mysql      <= 4.0.20                          >= 4.0.20-r1

Description
===========

Jeroen van Wolffelaar discovered that the MySQL database hot copy
utility (mysqlhotcopy.sh), when using the scp method, uses temporary
files with predictable names. A malicious local user with write access
to the /tmp directory could create a symbolic link pointing to a file,
which may then be overwritten. In cases where mysqlhotcopy is run as
root, a malicious user could create a symlink to a critical file such
as /etc/passwd and cause it to be overwritten.

Impact
======

A local attacker could use this vulnerability to destroy other users'
data or corrupt and destroy system files, possibly leading to a denial
of service condition.

Workaround
==========

There is no known workaround at this time.

Resolution
==========

All MySQL users should upgrade to the latest version:

    # emerge sync

    # emerge -pv ">=dev-db/mysql-4.0.20-r1"
    # emerge ">=dev-db/mysql-4.0.20-r1"

References
==========

  [ 1 ] CAN-2004-0457
        http://cve.mitre.org/cgi-bin/cvename.cgi?name=CAN-2004-0457

Availability
============

This GLSA and any updates to it are available for viewing at
the Gentoo Security Website:

  http://security.gentoo.org/glsa/glsa-200409-02.xml

Concerns?
=========

Security is a primary focus of Gentoo Linux and ensuring the
confidentiality and security of our users machines is of utmost
importance to us. Any security concerns should be addressed to
security@xxxxxxxxxx or alternatively, you may file a bug at
http://bugs.gentoo.org.

License
=======

Copyright 2004 Gentoo Foundation, Inc; referenced text
belongs to its owner(s).

The contents of this document are licensed under the
Creative Commons - Attribution / Share Alike license.

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/1.0


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