GLSA 201009-08: python-updater: Untrusted search path

http://security.gentoo.org/

Severity:	high
Title:	python-updater: Untrusted search path
Date:	09/21/2010
Bugs:	#288361
ID:	201009-08

Synopsis

An untrusted search path vulnerability in python-updater might result in the execution of arbitrary code.

Background

python-updater is a script used to remerge python packages when changing Python version.

Affected packages

Package	Vulnerable	Unaffected	Architecture(s)
app-admin/python-updater	< 0.7-r1	>= 0.7-r1	All supported architectures

Description

Robert Buchholz of the Gentoo Security Team reported that python-updater includes the current working directory and subdirectories in the Python module search path (sys.path) before calling "import".

Impact

A local attacker could entice the root user to run "python-updater" from a directory containing a specially crafted Python module, resulting in the execution of arbitrary code with root privileges.

Workaround

Do not run "python-updater" from untrusted working directories.

Resolution

All python-updater users should upgrade to the latest version:

    # emerge --sync
    # emerge --ask --oneshot --verbose ">=app-admin/python-updater-0.7-r1"

References

Availability

This GLSA and any updates to it are available for viewing at the Gentoo Security Website: http://security.gentoo.org/glsa/glsa-201009-08.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.