Re: [HACKERS] Possible make_oidjoins_check Security Issue

Bruce Momjian <pgman@candle.pha.pa.us>

From: Bruce Momjian <pgman@candle.pha.pa.us>
To: Gavin Sherry <swm@linuxworld.com.au>
Cc: Tom Lane <tgl@sss.pgh.pa.us>, Neil Conway <neilc@samurai.com>, PostgreSQL-patches <pgsql-patches@postgresql.org>
Date: 2004-11-04T02:05:08Z
Lists: pgsql-hackers
Gavin Sherry wrote:
> On Wed, 3 Nov 2004, Bruce Momjian wrote:
> 
> > Tom Lane wrote:
> > > Bruce Momjian <pgman@candle.pha.pa.us> writes:
> > > >> I think Tom's fix adequately addresses the security concerns. Exactly
> > > >> what is wrong with writing to the current working directory?
> > >
> > > > Because it could be run from a directory where others have write
> > > > permission.
> > >
> > > In which case, they could also change the findoidjoins script itself.
> > > I think your fix is *less* secure than what you replaced.
> > >
> > > However, I've already wasted more than enough time on this issue...
> > > I'm done arguing about it.
> >
> > As far as I know, my method is the only secure method.  If I am wrong I
> > would like to know.
> 
> I think the problem can really be solved by just removing it from the
> distribution. However, one thing I noticed with Bruce's script is that it
> does not respect $TMPDIR -- which security conscious admins may be
> setting. Solution would be to set TMP=${TMPDIR:-/tmp} before defining the
> path to the temporary sub directory.

OK, TMPDIR honored.  Thanks.

I am fine with removing it but if we don't I would like to have it
secure, mostly from a public relations perspective.

-- 
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