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

[Jeffrey Walton <noloader () gmail com>]

On Wed, Jul 6, 2011 at 6:36 AM, Jonathan Le Vigouroux
<jonathan.levigouroux () gmail com> wrote:
> Can you develop a bit about the:
> > you're surprised?
> >  [you must be new around here!]
> I'm new here, and I'd like the reason(s) why you said that.
> I don't mean to start a useless and finger-pointing debate, I just wanna be
> put up to speed, that's all.
No flame war - coderman has some experience dealing with security and
cert teams. After some time, you'll see some of the more memorable
responses (other than no acknowledgement/no response). In the
meantime, check out the "Lamest Vendor Response" from the Pwnie
Awards: http://www.pwnies.com/.

Jeff

> On Wed, Jul 6, 2011 at 9:44 AM, Jeffrey Walton <noloader () gmail com> wrote:
> > On Wed, Jul 6, 2011 at 3:23 AM, coderman <coderman () gmail com> wrote:
> > > On Tue, Jul 5, 2011 at 9:04 PM, Jeffrey Walton <noloader () gmail 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!]

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