VMBuilder chpasswd default password

vmbuilder-chpasswd-default-password (46603)

Medium Risk

Description:

VMBuilder could allow a local attacker to bypass security restrictions. python-vm-builder and ubuntu-vm-builder omit the -e option when invoking chpasswd with a root:! argument, which configures the root account of the virtual machine with a cleartext password of "!". An attacker could exploit this vulnerability to bypass security restrictions and possibly launch further attacks against the system.

*CVSS:

Base Score:	4.4
Access Vector:	Local
Access Complexity:	Medium
Authentication:	None
Confidentiality Impact:	Partial
Integrity Impact:	Partial
Availability Impact:	Partial
Temporal Score:	3.8
Exploitability:	High
Remediation Level:	Official-Fix
Report Confidence:	Confirmed

Consequences:

Bypass Security

Remedy:

Apply the appropriate update for your system. See References.

References:

• Launchpad Bug #296841: root account has ! as default password.
• Ubuntu Web site: Ubuntu.
• BID-32292: Ubuntu vm-builder Local Security Bypass Vulnerability
• CVE-2008-5103: The (1) python-vm-builder and (2) ubuntu-vm-builder implementations in VMBuilder 0.9 in Ubuntu 8.10 omit the -e option when invoking chpasswd with a root:! argument, which configures the root account with a cleartext password of ! (exclamation point) and allows attackers to bypass intended login restrictions.
• SA32697: Ubuntu vm-builder Root Password Vulnerability
• USN-670-1: VMBuilder vulnerability

Platforms Affected:

• Canonical Ubuntu 6.06 LTS
• Canonical Ubuntu 7.10
• Canonical Ubuntu 8.04 LTS
• Canonical Ubuntu 8.10

Reported:

Nov 13, 2008

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For corrections or additions please email xforce@iss.net

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The information within this database may change without notice. Use of this information constitutes acceptance for use in an AS IS condition. There are NO warranties, implied or otherwise, with regard to this information or its use. Any use of this information is at the user's risk. In no event shall IBM be held liable for any damages whatsoever arising out of or in connection with the use or spread of this information.

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