Description of problem: If fork() fails xinetd will leak sockets. Leaked sockets will be inherited by child processes. Version-Release number of selected component (if applicable): xinetd-2.3.7-4.7x How reproducible: Easy to reproduce if compiled with the DEBUG_RETRY option. Otherwise hard to reproduce. Steps to Reproduce: 1. Compile xinetd with the DEBUG_RETRY option 2. Install xinetd and enable telnet 3. Open a lot of incomming telnet sessions Actual results: xinetd leaks filedescriptors and eventually stops accepting connections. Child processes inherit the leaked descriptors. (In case of telnet the child will close the descriptor, so this is not immediately exploitable by arbitrary users.) Expected results: On fork failing xinetd closes the connection before going back to accept more connections. Additional info: Severity set to security, because xinetd services not running as root could potentially take over the leaked descriptors and snoop passwords. Priority set to low because the default install is not believed to be exploitable.
xinetd update (to 2.3.11) is in progress.
An errata has been issued which should help the problem described in this bug report. This report is therefore being closed with a resolution of ERRATA. For more information on the solution and/or where to find the updated files, please follow the link below. You may reopen this bug report if the solution does not work for you. http://rhn.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2003-160.html