Debian Security Advisory

screen -- local exploit

Date Reported:
02 Sep 2000
Affected Packages:
screen
Vulnerable:
Yes
Security database references:
In Mitre's CVE dictionary: CVE-2000-0901.
More information:
A format string bug was recently discovered in screen which can be used to gain elevated privileges if screen is setuid. Debian GNU/Linux 2.1 (slink) did ship screen setuid and the exploit can be used to gain root privileges. In Debian GNU/Linux 2.2 (potato) screen is not setuid, and is not vulnerable to a root exploit. screen is, however, setgid utmp in Debian GNU/Linux 2.2 (potato) and we recommend upgrading.

A fixed version of screen is available in version 3.7.4-9.1 for Debian GNU/Linux 2.1 (slink) and in version 3.9.5-9 for Debian GNU/Linux 2.2 (potato).

Note: for slink, we are releasing binary packages for i386 only at this time.

Fixed in:

Debian GNU/Linux 2.1 (slink)

Source:
http://security.debian.org/dists/slink/updates/source/screen_3.7.4-9.1.diff.gz
http://security.debian.org/dists/slink/updates/source/screen_3.7.4-9.1.dsc
http://security.debian.org/dists/slink/updates/source/screen_3.7.4.orig.tar.gz
i386:
http://security.debian.org/dists/slink/updates/binary-i386/screen_3.7.4-9.1_i386.deb

Debian GNU/Linux 2.2 (potato)

Source:
http://security.debian.org/dists/potato/updates/main/source/screen_3.9.5-9.diff.gz
http://security.debian.org/dists/potato/updates/main/source/screen_3.9.5-9.dsc
http://security.debian.org/dists/potato/updates/main/source/screen_3.9.5.orig.tar.gz
alpha:
http://security.debian.org/dists/potato/updates/main/binary-alpha/screen_3.9.5-9_alpha.deb
arm:
http://security.debian.org/dists/potato/updates/main/binary-arm/screen_3.9.5-9_arm.deb
i386:
http://security.debian.org/dists/potato/updates/main/binary-i386/screen_3.9.5-9_i386.deb
m68k:
http://security.debian.org/dists/potato/updates/main/binary-m68k/screen_3.9.5-9_m68k.deb
powerpc:
http://security.debian.org/dists/potato/updates/main/binary-powerpc/screen_3.9.5-9_powerpc.deb
sparc:
http://security.debian.org/dists/potato/updates/main/binary-sparc/screen_3.9.5-9_sparc.deb