Users of the open-source Samba software are being urged to patch their code following the discovery of a critical bug in the file-and-print software.
The bug is one of three vulnerabilities that were patched Monday by the Samba team in the Samba 3.0.25 release.
The flaw is considered to be particularly worrisome for two reasons: It could be remotely exploited by an attacker to run unauthorized code on the Samba server and there is no known work-around for the flaw. Samba ships with Linux and Unix operating systems and is a popular way of allowing Windows clients to print and store files using a Linux or Unix machine.
It's been a few years since Samba has had to fix this kind of vulnerability, which is due to a coding error affecting the way Samba puts data into the computer's memory, said Samba developer Jeremy Allison. "This kind of bug is rare for us," he said Monday in an e-mail interview. "That's why we're embarrassed."
Still, there is no known exploit code for the problem, and even if there were, an attacker would first have to find a way to reach a Samba server via Microsoft's Remote Procedure Call (RPC) service, which is typically blocked by the firewall.
The flaw could give attackers a way to jump from a compromised Windows computer to a Samba server, said David Endler, director of security research at 3Com's TippingPoint division, which first reported the flaw. "The real danger here is if an exploit is developed, it could be integrated into the latest botnet software," he said.
Endler added that he would be "surprised" if an exploit for the problem were not developed over the next few weeks.
This whitepaper explains the terminology and concepts behind Data Replication technologies and establishes some sizing rules through worked examples. Learn the new paradigm in disaster tolerance—protect data anywhere.
Download now »
Server virtualization is a popular option for dealing with mounting datacenter costs. Another equally promising approach is the use of an Application Delivery Controller. Citrix NetScaler provides a low-cost way for organizations to reduce their server count and accrue cost savings from a reduction in space, cooling, power and personnel.
Download now »
The emergence of WLANs has created a new breed of security threats to enterprise networks.
Included in HP ProCurve WLAN solutions is security technology that alleviates threats from WLANs through:
* Monitoring wireless activity inside and out of the enterprise
* Classifying WLAN transmissions into harmful and harmless
* Preventing transmissions that pose a security threat to the enterprise network
* Locating participating devices for physical remediation
Effectively address data protection challenges, implementing solutions that help store and protect business–critical data while cutting costs and improving efficiency and reliability.
Download now »
Sign up to receive InfoWorld Resource Alerts
Recommend This
