REDHAT-BUG-397011: Low severity vsftpd vsftpd vulnerability
Description of problem: There is a memory leak that causes memory to be allocated but not freed. When the denyfile option is set, it is possible to easily exploit this. This is a regression caused by applied patch in bz174764. Problem also exists in FC-6, F-7, F-8 and fedora/devel. Attached is a patch to solve the problem.
Version-Release number of selected component (if applicable): vsftpd-2.0.5-10.el5
How reproducible: always
Steps to Reproduce: echo denyfile=foo >> /etc/vsftpd/vsftpd.conf service vsftpd restart
$ cat > memtest.sh << EOF #!/bin/bash echo USER anonymous echo PASS foo
while [ 1 ]; do echo CWD pub echo CWD .. done EOF
$ chmod 700 memtest.sh $ ./memtest.sh | telnet localhost 21 > /dev/null
Actual results: vsftpd starts to allocate memory that will never be freed.
Expected results:
Additional info: It is possible that the memory leak can be exploited by other means, or with other vsftpd.conf options. This was not investigated into more depth.
Affected Software
Event History
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the severity of REDHAT-BUG-397011?
The severity of REDHAT-BUG-397011 is considered high due to the potential for exploitation and memory leaks.
How do I fix REDHAT-BUG-397011?
You can fix REDHAT-BUG-397011 by applying the appropriate patches for the affected versions of VSFTPD and Fedora.
What software is affected by REDHAT-BUG-397011?
The software affected by REDHAT-BUG-397011 includes VSFTPD and specific versions of Fedora ranging from FC-6 to F-9.
What causes the memory leak in REDHAT-BUG-397011?
The memory leak in REDHAT-BUG-397011 is caused by a regression from a patch that failed to properly manage memory allocation.
Can REDHAT-BUG-397011 be exploited easily?
Yes, REDHAT-BUG-397011 can be easily exploited when the deny_file option is set due to inadequate memory management.