Title: Linux pt_chown Vulnerability
Severity: INFO
Description:
pt_chown is a program included with glibc 2.1.x that exists to aid the proper allocation of terminals for non-suid programs that don't have devpts support. It is installed setuid root, and is shipped with RedHat Linux 6.0. As it stands, pt_chown is vulnerable to an attack that allows malicious users to write aribtrary data to tty input/output streams (open file desciptors -> tty) that don't belong to them (you could theoretically get full control of the terminal). This is done by fooling the program into giving you access (it lacks security checks). Whether you can be compromised or not depends on the software you are using and whether it has support for devpts (screen, midnight commander, etc). The consequences are hijacking of terminals, possibly leading to a root compromise.
Affected Products:
- GNU glibc 2.1.0
- GNU glibc 2.1.1-6
- RedHat Linux 6.0.0
Juniper Networks provides this content via a wide variety of sources and production methods. If notified of errors or omissions in the content of this page, Juniper Networks, at its discretion, will modify or remove the page or leave the content as is, depending on various factors including but not limited to the reputation and authority of the party providing the notification. Please use the contact information displayed elsewhere on this page to report any errors or omissions regarding the content on this page.
