GLSA 201803-04: Newsbeuter: User-assisted execution of arbitrary code

http://security.gentoo.org/

Severity:	normal
Title:	Newsbeuter: User-assisted execution of arbitrary code
Date:	03/11/2018
Bugs:	#631150
ID:	201803-04

Synopsis

A vulnerability in Newsbeuter may allow remote attackers to execute arbitrary shell commands.

Background

Newsbeuter is a RSS/Atom feed reader for the text console.

Affected packages

Package	Vulnerable	Unaffected	Architecture(s)
net-news/newsbeuter	<= 2.9-r3		All supported architectures

Description

Newsbeuter does not properly escape shell meta-characters in an RSS item with a media enclosure in the podcast playback function of Podbeuter.

Impact

A remote attacker, by enticing a user to open a feed with a specially crafted media enclosure, could possibly execute arbitrary shell commands with the privileges of the user running the application.

Workaround

There is no known workaround at this time.

Resolution

Gentoo has discontinued support for Newsbeuter and recommends that users unmerge the package:

      # emerge --unmerge "net-news/newsbeuter"

References

CVE-2017-14500

Availability

This GLSA and any updates to it are available for viewing at the Gentoo Security Website: http://security.gentoo.org/glsa/glsa-201803-04.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.