REDHAT-BUG-680237: High severity LogWatch LogWatch vulnerability

Published Feb 24, 2011
·
Updated

A security flaw was found in the way logwatch, a log file analysis program, pre-processed log files, containing certain special characters in their names. A remote attacker could use this flaw to execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the privileged system user (root) by creating a specially-crafted log file, subsequently analyzed by the logwatch script.

Upstream bug report: [1] http://sourceforge.net/tracker/?func=detail&aid=3184223&groupid=312875&atid=1316824

Related patch: [2] http://logwatch.svn.sourceforge.net/viewvc/logwatch?view=revision&revision=26

Other references: [3] http://sourceforge.net/mailarchive/forum.php?threadname=4D604843.7040303%40mblmail.net&forumname=logwatch-devel

Affected Software

1 affected component
LogWatch LogWatch

Event History

Feb 24, 2011
Data Sourced
via Red Hat·06:52 PM
DescriptionSeverityAffected Software
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Frequently Asked Questions

1

What is the severity of REDHAT-BUG-680237?

The severity of REDHAT-BUG-680237 is critical due to the potential for arbitrary code execution with root privileges.

2

How do I fix REDHAT-BUG-680237?

To fix REDHAT-BUG-680237, update the Logwatch package to the latest version provided by your distribution.

3

What versions of Logwatch are affected by REDHAT-BUG-680237?

REDHAT-BUG-680237 affects specific versions of Logwatch that process log files containing special characters.

4

Can REDHAT-BUG-680237 be exploited remotely?

Yes, REDHAT-BUG-680237 can be exploited remotely if an attacker creates log files with specially crafted names.

5

What type of attack does REDHAT-BUG-680237 enable?

REDHAT-BUG-680237 enables arbitrary code execution attacks on systems running vulnerable versions of Logwatch.

Contact

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