Security update for VNC

Knowledgebase

(Last modified: 20FEB2003)

solutions Security update for VNC SuSE Linux Maintenance Web (2e683a5b4dc601512473c991c6d51c28)

Applies to

Product(s): SuSE Linux Enterprise Server 7 for IA32
SuSE Linux Enterprise Server 8 for x86
SuSE Linux Enterprise Server 8 for IBM S/390 and IBM zSeries
SuSE Linux Enterprise Server 8 for IBM zSeries
SuSE Linux Office Server
SuSE Linux Openexchange Server 4

Package: vnc
Release: 20030220
Obsoletes: none

Indications

Everyone using VNC should apply this patch.

Contraindications

None.

Problem description

The authentification for X11 clients to an X server is done by using a "cookie", a specific sequence of random characters used by the server and shared with an entitled client. A connecting client must show proof that he is in the possession of the correct cookie. Therefore, the quality of the randomness of the cookie determines the level of security in this authentification scheme.
The vnc package uses a method for creating the cookie that results in a weak randomness of the cookie. This renders the cookie guessable by an attacker seeking access to the running VNC X server. With this update, the scheme used to create these random numbers has been changed to create a better randomness for the cookies.

Solution

Please install the updates provided at the location noted below.

Installation notes

This update is provided as an RPM package that can easily be installed onto a running system by using this command:
rpm -Fvh vnc.rpm

links to download packages

Download Source Packages

Download the source code of the patches for maintained products.

Disclaimer

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