CrackLib: Buffer overflow — GLSA 201612-25

A vulnerability in CrackLib could lead to the execution of arbitrary code.

Affected packages

Package	sys-libs/cracklib on all architectures
Affected versions	< 2.9.6-r1
Unaffected versions	>= 2.9.6-r1

Background

CrackLib is a library used to enforce strong passwords by comparing user selected passwords to words in chosen word lists.

Description

A stack-based buffer overflow was discovered in the FascistGecosUser function of lib/fascist.c.

Impact

A local attacker could set a specially crafted GECOS field value in “/etc/passwd”; possibly resulting in the execution of arbitrary code with the privileges of the process, a Denial of Service condition, or the escalation of privileges.

Workaround

There is no known workaround at this time.

Resolution

All CrackLib users should upgrade to the latest version:

 # emerge --sync
 # emerge --ask --oneshot --verbose ">=sys-libs/cracklib-2.9.6-r1"

References

CVE-2016-6318

Release date
December 08, 2016

Latest revision
December 08, 2016: 1

Severity
normal

Exploitable
local

Bugzilla entries

591456