CrackLib: Buffer overflow

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"