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Bugtraq archives for 3rd quarter (Jul-Sep) 1997: [linux-security] so-called snprintf() in db-1.85.4 (fwd)

[linux-security] so-called snprintf() in db-1.85.4 (fwd)

Aleph One (aleph1DFW.NET)
Wed, 9 Jul 1997 04:39:06 -0500 

---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Tue, 8 Jul 1997 21:33:55 +0200
From: Thomas Roessler <roesslerguug.de>
Reply-To: linux-securityredhat.com
To: linux-securityredhat.com
Cc: The mutt developpers' list <mutt-devcs.hmc.edu>, gertjancs.vu.nl
Subject: [linux-security] so-called snprintf() in db-1.85.4
Resent-Date: 9 Jul 1997 09:01:41 -0000
Resent-From: linux-securityredhat.com
Resent-cc: recipient list not shown:;redhat.com

Hi,

There is a severe problem with the db-1.85.4 library's Linux
port that can be found on sunsite.unc.edu under
/pub/Linux/libs/db-1.85.4-src.tar.gz (sp?): This library
contains a "snprintf" function which breaks down to a common
sprintf, ignoring the size parameter.  Obviously, this was
thought to be a terribly bad work-around for C libraries which
don't contain an snprintf routine of their own.  The
consequences of this bug are obvious: Any program which is
linked with libdb.so.1.85.4 and relies on snprintf(3) to do
it's bounds checking doesn't have any bounds checking at all.

Note that recent linux C libraries contain an snprintf(3)
function of their own which does it's job properly.  Thus, the
fix is to simply remove snprintf.o from libdb.

tlr
--
Thomas Roessler · 74a353cc0b19 · dg1ktr · http://home.pages.de/~roessler/
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