GLSA 200502-18: VMware Workstation: Untrusted library search path

http://security.gentoo.org/

Severity:	normal
Title:	VMware Workstation: Untrusted library search path
Date:	02/14/2005
Bugs:	#81344
ID:	200502-18

Synopsis

VMware may load shared libraries from an untrusted, world-writable directory, resulting in the execution of arbitrary code.

Background

VMware Workstation is a powerful virtual machine for developers and system administrators.

Affected packages

Package	Vulnerable	Unaffected	Architecture(s)
app-emulation/vmware-workstation	< 4.5.2.8848-r5	>= 4.5.2.8848-r5	All supported architectures

Description

Tavis Ormandy of the Gentoo Linux Security Audit Team has discovered that VMware Workstation searches for gdk-pixbuf loadable modules in an untrusted, world-writable directory.

Impact

A local attacker could create a malicious shared object that would be loaded by VMware, resulting in the execution of arbitrary code with the privileges of the user running VMware.

Workaround

The system administrator may create the file /tmp/rrdharan to prevent malicious users from creating a directory at that location:

    # touch /tmp/rrdharan

Resolution

All VMware Workstation users should upgrade to the latest version:

    # emerge --sync
    # emerge --ask --oneshot --verbose ">=app-emulation/vmware-workstation-3.2.1.2242-r4"

References

CVE-2005-0444

Availability

This GLSA and any updates to it are available for viewing at the Gentoo Security Website: http://security.gentoo.org/glsa/glsa-200502-18.xml

Concerns?

Security is a primary focus of Gentoo Linux and ensuring the confidentiality and security of our users machines is of utmost importance to us. Any security concerns should be addressed to security@gentoo.org or alternatively, you may file a bug at https://bugs.gentoo.org.