Bash bug can let others take over your computer
Posted: 25 Sep 2014, 08:16

RedHat has discovered a weakness in Bash and the way it treats variables.
This weakness allows code injection attacks.
the vulnerability arises from the fact that you can create environment variables with specially-crafted values before calling the bash shell. These variables can contain code, which gets executed as soon as the shell is invoked
This has been a part of bash all the time so this has been possible all the time.
There are no known examples of this having been exploited.
But considering that most routers are using Linux and that most "state security agencies" wants to control the internet; this has probably already been (ab)used by ISP's to assist the police and national security agencies.
Now this will be patched and that will take care of Desktop Linux users, Servers and Mac OSX users.
To see if your system is vulnerable
you can run this code
Code: Select all
env x='() { :;}; echo vulnerable' bash -c "echo this is a test"It will produce:
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vulnerable
this is a testAfter your system has been patched it will produce something like:
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bash: warning: x: ignoring function definition attempt
bash: error importing function definition for `x'
this is a testThe "internet of things" where your refrigerator and you surveillance camera is hooked up to the internet or your Tesla Electric car which can be remote controlled by a smartphone App: is another matter...
It depends on when and if the software gets updated.
If your cameras, cars,TV's, light-switches, or refrigerators are not hooked up to the internet there is nothing to worry about.
more here
