Full Disclosure mailing list archives
Re: Ubuntu: reseed(8), random.org, and HTTP request
From: coderman <coderman () gmail com>
Date: Wed, 6 Jul 2011 00:23:49 -0700
On Tue, Jul 5, 2011 at 9:04 PM, Jeffrey Walton <noloader () gmail com> wrote:
Ubuntu's reseed(8) can be used to seed the PRNG state of a host. The script is run when the package installed, and anytime su executes the script.
... someone thought this was a good idea. [an entropy pool remotely biased by MitM attacker, maybe?]
reseed(8) performs a unsecured HTTP request to random.org for its bits, despite random.org offering HTTPS services.
https doesn't help if your host entropy pool is poorly seeded. [SSL/TLS needs entropy for authenticity/privacy.]
The Ubuntu Security Team took no interest when contacted by email (no reply); the point of contact listed in the man pages took no interest when contacted by email (no reply); and a launcher bug report was not acted upon (https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/reseed/+bug/804594).
you're surprised? [you must be new around here!] _______________________________________________ Full-Disclosure - We believe in it. Charter: http://lists.grok.org.uk/full-disclosure-charter.html Hosted and sponsored by Secunia - http://secunia.com/
Current thread:
- Ubuntu: reseed(8), random.org, and HTTP request Jeffrey Walton (Jul 05)
- Re: Ubuntu: reseed(8), random.org, and HTTP request coderman (Jul 06)
- Re: Ubuntu: reseed(8), random.org, and HTTP request Jeffrey Walton (Jul 06)
- Re: Ubuntu: reseed(8), random.org, and HTTP request Jonathan Le Vigouroux (Jul 06)
- Re: Ubuntu: reseed(8), random.org, and HTTP request Jeffrey Walton (Jul 06)
- Re: Ubuntu: reseed(8), random.org, and HTTP request Jeffrey Walton (Jul 06)
- Re: Ubuntu: reseed(8), random.org, and HTTP request coderman (Jul 06)
- Re: Ubuntu: reseed(8), random.org, and HTTP request Jamie Strandboge (Jul 06)
- Re: Ubuntu: reseed(8), random.org, and HTTP request Michal Zalewski (Jul 06)
- Re: Ubuntu: reseed(8), random.org, and HTTP request Michal Zalewski (Jul 06)