XScreenSaver: Privilege escalation — GLSA 200705-14

XScreenSaver allows local users to bypass authentication under certain configurations.

Affected packages

x11-misc/xscreensaver on all architectures
Affected versions < 5.02
Unaffected versions >= 5.02

Background

XScreenSaver is a widely used screen saver collection shipped on systems running the X11 Window System.

Description

XScreenSaver incorrectly handles the results of the getpwuid() function in drivers/lock.c when using directory servers during a network outage.

Impact

A local user can crash XScreenSaver by preventing network connectivity if the system uses a remote directory service for credentials such as NIS or LDAP, which will unlock the screen.

Workaround

There is no known workaround at this time.

Resolution

All XScreenSaver users should upgrade to the latest version:

 # emerge --sync
 # emerge --ask --oneshot --verbose ">=x11-misc/xscreensaver-5.02"

References

Release date
May 13, 2007

Latest revision
May 13, 2007: 01

Severity
normal

Exploitable
local

Bugzilla entries