GLSA 200706-03: ELinks: User-assisted execution of arbitrary code

http://security.gentoo.org/

Severity:	normal
Title:	ELinks: User-assisted execution of arbitrary code
Date:	06/06/2007
Bugs:	#177512
ID:	200706-03

Synopsis

A vulnerability has been discovered in ELinks allowing for the user-assisted execution of arbitrary code.

Background

ELinks is a text-mode web browser.

Affected packages

Package	Vulnerable	Unaffected	Architecture(s)
www-client/elinks	< 0.11.2-r1	>= 0.11.2-r1	All supported architectures

Description

Arnaud Giersch discovered that the "add_filename_to_string()" function in file intl/gettext/loadmsgcat.c uses an untrusted relative path, allowing for a format string attack with a malicious .po file.

Impact

A local attacker could entice a user to run ELinks in a specially crafted directory environment containing a malicious ".po" file, possibly resulting in the execution of arbitrary code with the privileges of the user running ELinks.

Workaround

There is no known workaround at this time.

Resolution

All ELinks users should upgrade to the latest version:

    # emerge --sync
    # emerge --ask --oneshot --verbose ">=www-client/elinks-0.11.2-r1"

References

CVE-2007-2027

Availability

This GLSA and any updates to it are available for viewing at the Gentoo Security Website: http://security.gentoo.org/glsa/glsa-200706-03.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.