AusCERT - ESB-2003.0684 -- [Solaris] -- GNOME 2.0 XScreenSaver Will Not Lock as Root

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ESB-2003.0684 -- [Solaris] -- GNOME 2.0 XScreenSaver Will Not Lock as Root
Date: 19 April 2007

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===========================================================================
             AUSCERT External Security Bulletin Redistribution

                ESB-2003.0684 -- Sun(sm) Alert Notification
     Sun Alert ID: 56720 GNOME 2.0 XScreenSaver Will Not Lock as Root
                             19 April 2007

===========================================================================

        AusCERT Security Bulletin Summary
        ---------------------------------

Product:                GNOME 2.0 XScreensaver
Publisher:              Sun Microsystems
Operating System:       Solaris 8 and 9
Platform:               SPARC
                        x86
Impact:                 Reduced Security
Access Required:        Existing Account

Original Bulletin: 
  http://sunsolve.sun.com/search/printfriendly.do?assetkey=1-26-101338-1

Revision History:  April     19 2007: Solaris 8 patches now available
                   September 23 2003: Initial Release

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Sun(sm) Alert Notification
     * Sun Alert ID: 101338 (formerly 56720)
     * Synopsis: GNOME 2.0 XScreenSaver Will Not Lock as Root
     * Category: Security
     * Product: Solaris 9 Operating System, Solaris 8 Operating System
     * BugIDs: 4849641
     * Avoidance: Patch
     * State: Resolved
     * Date Released: 23-Sep-2003, 17-Apr-2007
     * Date Closed: 17-Apr-2007
     * Date Modified: 17-Apr-2007

1. Impact

   Root users logging into the GNOME desktop cannot lock the screen via
   XScreenSaver.

   For more information on this issue, please see:
   http://www.jwz.org/xscreensaver/faq.html#root-lock

2. Contributing Factors

   This issue can occur in the following releases:

   SPARC Platform
     * GNOME 2.0 (for Solaris 8) without patch 115298-01
     * GNOME 2.0 (for Solaris 9) without patch 115158-03

   x86 Platform
     * GNOME 2.0 (for Solaris 8) without patch 115299-01
     * GNOME 2.0 (for Solaris 9) without patch 115159-03

   To determine the version of GNOME on a system, the following command
   can be run:
   % /usr/bin/gnome-about

3. Symptoms

   There are two possible symptoms for this issue:
    1. The screen will not lock when selecting "Lock Screen" from the
       "Actions" menu item.
    2. For root desktop sessions, the screen will not automatically lock
       after a period of inactivity. 

4. Relief/Workaround

   To work around this issue, use xlock(1) from a command line.

5. Resolution

   This issue is addressed in the following releases:

   SPARC Platform
     * GNOME 2.0 (for Solaris 8) with patch 115298-01 or later
     * GNOME 2.0 (for Solaris 9) with patch 115158-03 or later

   x86 Platform
     * GNOME 2.0 (for Solaris 8) with patch 115299-01 or later
     * GNOME 2.0 (for Solaris 9) with patch 115159-03 or later

Change History

   17-Apr-2007:
     * Updated Contributing Factors and Resolution sections
     * State: Resolved

   This Sun Alert notification is being provided to you on an "AS IS"
   basis. This Sun Alert notification may contain information provided by
   third parties. The issues described in this Sun Alert notification may
   or may not impact your system(s). Sun makes no representations,
   warranties, or guarantees as to the information contained herein. ANY
   AND ALL WARRANTIES, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING WITHOUT LIMITATION
   WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, OR
   NON-INFRINGEMENT, ARE HEREBY DISCLAIMED. BY ACCESSING THIS DOCUMENT
   YOU ACKNOWLEDGE THAT SUN SHALL IN NO EVENT BE LIABLE FOR ANY DIRECT,
   INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, PUNITIVE, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES THAT ARISE
   OUT OF YOUR USE OR FAILURE TO USE THE INFORMATION CONTAINED HEREIN.
   This Sun Alert notification contains Sun proprietary and confidential
   information. It is being provided to you pursuant to the provisions of
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   such an agreement, the Sun.com Terms of Use. This Sun Alert
   notification may only be used for the purposes contemplated by these
   agreements.

   Copyright 2000-2006 Sun Microsystems, Inc., 4150 Network Circle, Santa
   Clara, CA 95054 U.S.A. All rights reserved

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