full-disclosure - Re: Ubuntu: reseed(8), random.org, and HTTP request

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Date: Wed, 6 Jul 2011 03:44:23 -0400
From: Jeffrey Walton <noloader@...il.com>
To: coderman <coderman@...il.com>
Cc: Full Disclosure <full-disclosure@...ts.grok.org.uk>,
	BugTraq <bugtraq@...urityfocus.com>
Subject: Re: Ubuntu: reseed(8), random.org,
	and HTTP request

On Wed, Jul 6, 2011 at 3:23 AM, coderman <coderman@...il.com> wrote:
> On Tue, Jul 5, 2011 at 9:04 PM, Jeffrey Walton <noloader@...il.com> wrote:
>> Ubuntu's reseed(8) can be used to seed the PRNG state of a host. The
>> script is run when the package installed, and anytime su executes the
>> script.
>
> ... someone thought this was a good idea.
>  [an entropy pool remotely biased by MitM attacker, maybe?]
:)

>> reseed(8) performs a unsecured HTTP request to random.org for its
>> bits, despite random.org offering HTTPS services.
>
> https doesn't help if your host entropy pool is poorly seeded.
>  [SSL/TLS needs entropy for authenticity/privacy.]
>
>
>> The Ubuntu Security Team took no interest when contacted by email (no
>> reply); the point of contact listed in the man pages took no interest
>> when contacted by email (no reply); and a launcher bug report was not
>> acted upon (https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/reseed/+bug/804594).
>
> you're surprised?
Hardly - listed for completeness.

>  [you must be new around here!]

Jeff

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