[ GLSA 200408-15 ] Tomcat: Insecure Installation

[Sune Kloppenborg Jeppesen <jaervosz () gentoo org>]

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Gentoo Linux Security Advisory                           GLSA 200408-15
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                                            http://security.gentoo.org/
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  Severity: Normal
     Title: Tomcat: Insecure Installation
      Date: August 15, 2004
      Bugs: #59232
        ID: 200408-15

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Synopsis
========

Improper file ownership may allow a member of the tomcat group to
execute scripts as root.

Background
==========

Tomcat is the Apache Jakarta Project's official implementation of Java
Servlets and Java Server Pages.

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

    -------------------------------------------------------------------
     Package         /   Vulnerable   /                     Unaffected
    -------------------------------------------------------------------
  1  net-www/tomcat      < 5.0.27-r3                      >= 5.0.27-r3
                                                         *>= 4.1.30-r4
                                                          *>= 3.3.2-r2

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

The Gentoo ebuild for Tomcat sets the ownership of the Tomcat init
scripts as tomcat:tomcat, but those scripts are executed with root
privileges when the system is started. This may allow a member of the
tomcat group to run arbitrary code with root privileges when the Tomcat
init scripts are run.

Impact
======

This could lead to a local privilege escalation or root compromise by
authenticated users.

Workaround
==========

Users may change the ownership of /etc/init.d/tomcat* and
/etc/conf.d/tomcat* to be root:root:

    # chown -R root:root /etc/init.d/tomcat*
    # chown -R root:root /etc/conf.d/tomcat*

Resolution
==========

All Tomcat users can upgrade to the latest stable version, or simply
apply the workaround:

    # emerge sync
    # emerge -pv ">=net-www/tomcat-5.0.27-r3"
    # emerge ">=net-www/tomcat-5.0.27-r3"

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

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

    http://security.gentoo.org/glsa/glsa-200408-15.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 () gentoo org 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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