lighttpd: Multiple vulnerabilities

1. Gentoo Linux Security Advisory

Advisory Reference	GLSA 200804-08 / lighttpd
Release Date	April 10, 2008
Latest Revision	April 10, 2008: 01
Impact	normal
Exploitable	remote

Package	Vulnerable versions	Unaffected versions	Architecture(s)
www-servers/lighttpd	< 1.4.19-r2	>= 1.4.19-r2	All supported architectures

Related bugreports: #212930, #214892

Synopsis

Multiple vulnerabilities in lighttpd may lead to information disclosure or a Denial of Service.

2. Impact Information

Background

lighttpd is a lightweight high-performance web server.

Description

Julien Cayzax discovered that an insecure default setting exists in mod_userdir in lighttpd. When userdir.path is not set the default value used is $HOME. It should be noted that the "nobody" user's $HOME is "/" (CVE-2008-1270). An error also exists in the SSL connection code which can be triggered when a user prematurely terminates his connection (CVE-2008-1531).

Impact

A remote attacker could exploit the first vulnerability to read arbitrary files. The second vulnerability can be exploited by a remote attacker to cause a Denial of Service by terminating a victim's SSL connection.

3. Resolution Information

Workaround

As a workaround for CVE-2008-1270 you can set userdir.path to a sensible value, e.g. "public_html".

Resolution

All lighttpd users should upgrade to the latest version:

Code Listing 3.1: Resolution

# emerge --sync
# emerge --ask --oneshot --verbose ">=www-servers/lighttpd-1.4.19-r2"

4. References

Updated April 10, 2008

Summary: This is a Gentoo Linux Security Advisory

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