Description
The line printer daemon (lpd) in the lpr package in multiple Linux operating systems allows local users to gain root privileges by causing sendmail to execute with arbitrary command line arguments, as demonstrated using the -C option to specify a configuration file.
Fixed in Linux distributions
Distributions backport fixes, so the version that fixes this vulnerability differs per release — upgrade to at least the version shown. From the distributions' security trackers and advisories.
Debian
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Debian 14 | lpr | 1:0.48-1 | — |
| Debian 13 | lpr | 1:0.48-1 | — |
| Debian 12 | lpr | 1:0.48-1 | — |
Public exploits
Exploit or proof-of-concept code for this vulnerability is publicly available, which lowers the bar for attackers. Treat it as a reason to patch sooner.
Third-party code, not reviewed by us. Public PoCs are sometimes fake or contain malware. Read the code first and run it only in an isolated lab, against systems you are authorised to test.
Exploit-DB 1
- BSD / Linux - 'lpr' Local Privilege Escalation EDB-325 · local · Oct 25, 1996 · verified
Sources: PoC-in-GitHub, Metasploit Framework, Exploit-DB — updated daily. Only links are listed; no exploit code is hosted here.
References
- 20000109 lpr -- access control problem and root exploit vendor-advisory
- 20000108 L0pht Advisory: LPD, RH 4.x,5.x,6.x mailing-list
- 927 vdb-entry
- redhat-lpd-print-control(3841) vdb-entry
- 20000108 Quadruple Inverted Backflip vendor-advisory
- VU#39001 third-party-advisory
- RHSA-2000:002 vendor-advisory
- http://www.atstake.com/research/advisories/2000/lpd_advisory.txt