GNOME Cleartext Passwords: Bug or Feature?
The current discussion in the Ubuntu forums is about a possible security hole in GNOME, specifically about GNOME registered users having their passwords appear as cleartext on the keyring. Not a bug, say its defenders, but the security concept behind the GNOME keyring.
In the discussion thread, the discoverer of the "blatant security flaw" gave an example of how it happens in Ubuntu 9.10. The user starts Ubuntu and registers on the desktop. The path through the Applications | Accessories | Passwords and Encryption Keyrings menus arrives at the keyring manager. Clicking on the Login folder shows the application processes and programs (including WLAN and mail accounts) and their respective passwords.
A right mouse click on an entry shows a context menu of properties, one of its tab being for keys. Clicking Password pops up a screen asking whether keyring access is allowed, for which no restrictions exist. The passphrase then appears and can be viewed as cleartext.
- Login or register to post comments
- Printer-friendly version
- 1252 reads
- PDF version
More in Tux Machines
- Highlights
- Front Page
- Latest Headlines
- Archive
- Recent comments
- All-Time Popular Stories
- Hot Topics
- New Members
digiKam 7.7.0 is releasedAfter three months of active maintenance and another bug triage, the digiKam team is proud to present version 7.7.0 of its open source digital photo manager. See below the list of most important features coming with this release. |
Dilution and Misuse of the "Linux" Brand
|
Samsung, Red Hat to Work on Linux Drivers for Future TechThe metaverse is expected to uproot system design as we know it, and Samsung is one of many hardware vendors re-imagining data center infrastructure in preparation for a parallel 3D world. Samsung is working on new memory technologies that provide faster bandwidth inside hardware for data to travel between CPUs, storage and other computing resources. The company also announced it was partnering with Red Hat to ensure these technologies have Linux compatibility. |
today's howtos
|
Recent comments
1 year 11 weeks ago
1 year 11 weeks ago
1 year 11 weeks ago
1 year 11 weeks ago
1 year 11 weeks ago
1 year 11 weeks ago
1 year 11 weeks ago
1 year 11 weeks ago
1 year 11 weeks ago
1 year 11 weeks ago