Description
The GridFTP in Globus Toolkit (GT) before 5.2.2, when certain autoconf macros are defined, does not properly check the return value from the getpwnam_r function, which might allow remote attackers to gain privileges by logging in with a user that does not exist, which causes GridFTP to run as the last user in the password 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 | globus-gridftp-server | 6.5-1 | — |
| Debian 13 | globus-gridftp-server | 6.5-1 | — |
| Debian 12 | globus-gridftp-server | 6.5-1 | — |
| Debian 6.0 | globus-gridftp-server | 3.23-1+squeeze1 | DSA-2523-1 |
Advisories 1
- DSA-2523-1 globus-gridftp-server - programming error Debian Security (DSA / DLA) · Mar 9, 2026
References
- FEDORA-2012-8488 vendor-advisory
- DSA-2523 vendor-advisory
- http://jira.globus.org/browse/GT-195
- FEDORA-2012-8445 vendor-advisory
- FEDORA-2012-8461 vendor-advisory