RHSA-2005:361 - Security Advisory

Topic

An updated vixie-cron package that fixes various bugs and a security issue
is now available.

This update has been rated as having low security impact by the Red Hat
Security Response Team.

Description

The vixie-cron package contains the Vixie version of cron. Cron is a
standard UNIX daemon that runs specified programs at scheduled times.

A bug was found in the way vixie-cron installs new crontab files. It is
possible for a local attacker to execute the crontab command in such a way
that they can view the contents of another user's crontab file. The Common
Vulnerabilities and Exposures project assigned the name CAN-2005-1038 to
this issue.

Additionally, this update addresses the following issues:

o Fixed improper limits on filename and command line lengths
o Improved PAM access control conforming to EAL certification requirements
o Improved reliability when running in a chroot environment
o Mail recipient name checking disabled by default, can be re-enabled
o Added '-p' "permit all crontabs" option to disable crontab mode checking

All users of vixie-cron should upgrade to this updated package, which
contains backported patches and is not vulnerable to these issues.

Solution

Before applying this update, make sure that all previously-released
errata relevant to your system have been applied. Use Red Hat
Network to download and update your packages. To launch the Red Hat
Update Agent, use the following command:

up2date

For information on how to install packages manually, refer to the
following Web page for the System Administration or Customization
guide specific to your system:

http://www.redhat.com/docs/manuals/enterprise/

Affected Products

• Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server 4 x86_64
• Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server 4 ia64
• Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server 4 i386
• Red Hat Enterprise Linux Workstation 4 x86_64
• Red Hat Enterprise Linux Workstation 4 ia64
• Red Hat Enterprise Linux Workstation 4 i386
• Red Hat Enterprise Linux Desktop 4 x86_64
• Red Hat Enterprise Linux Desktop 4 i386
• Red Hat Enterprise Linux for IBM z Systems 4 s390x
• Red Hat Enterprise Linux for IBM z Systems 4 s390
• Red Hat Enterprise Linux for Power, big endian 4 ppc

Fixes

• BZ - 147636 - cron fails to run user jobs and gives vague error message
• BZ - 154920 - CAN-2005-1038 vixie-cron information leak
• BZ - 159216 - vixie-cron updates for new audit system
• BZ - 163881 - Cron no longer allows read-only crontabs, enforces write access
• BZ - 163882 - cron fails with pam_access
• BZ - 163885 - crontab truncates file names greater than 100 characters.
• BZ - 163888 - CAN-2005-1038 vixie-cron information leak
• BZ - 163889 - [PATCH] List corruption when items are removed from /etc/cron.d

CVEs

• CVE-2005-1038

References

• http://www.securityfocus.com/archive/1/395093