Re: [ GLSA 200611-03 ] NVIDIA binary graphics driver: Privilege escalation vulnerability

[Nick FitzGerald <nick () virus-l demon co uk>]

Raphael Marichez to Nick Boyce (??):

> > um ... doesn't that make it a *remote* privilege escalation ?
>
> in a certain way... you're right... although that requires the user
> complicity, strictly speaking, you're right.

Makes it no less remote.

Not _automatic_ remote, but still very, very much "remote".

> The guy who would manage to remotely root a box with that vulnerability would
> be really good. The real serious risk is local only. (think about all
> that unpatched linux boxes in the universities...)

You have a really odd view of the security exposure...

Even _Microsoft_ (now) self-rates this type of vulnerability as 
critical and remotely exploitable for execution of arbitrary code (e.g. 
the WMF vuln from late last year).  OK -- so we can quibble over 
whether it released patches quickly enough in that case (no), but at 
least even the traditionally considered slackest of security slackers 
gets the rating of the severity and scope of this kind of vuln right.

Any hope of Linux distro folk getting that clued?


Regards,

Nick FitzGerald