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  • From: Thomas Houssin <thomas.houssin AT gmail.com>
  • To: sm-security <sm-security AT lists.ibiblio.org>
  • Subject: [SM-Security] texinfo: symlink attack
  • Date: Sun, 13 Nov 2005 23:52:40 +0100

Synopsis
========
texindex in texinfo allows local users to overwrite arbitrary files via
a symlink attack on temporary files.

Background
==========
Texinfo is a documentation system that uses a single source file to
produce both online information and printed output.

Description
===========
CAN-2005-3011:
texindex in texinfo 4.8 and earlier allows local users to overwrite
arbitrary files via a symlink attack on temporary files.

Impact
======
A local attacker could create symbolic links in the temporary files
directory, pointing to a valid file. When texindex is executed, this
would result in the file being overwritten with the rights of the user
running the application.

Workaround
==========
There are no known workarounds at this time.

Affected packages
=================
This is now fixed in all grimoires.

Resolution
==========
All texinfo users should upgrade to the latest available version:
# scribe update
# cast -c texinfo

References
==========
[ 1 ] CAN-2005-3011
http://cve.mitre.org/cgi-bin/cvename.cgi?name=CAN-2005-3011
[ 2 ] GLSA 200510-04
http://security.gentoo.org/glsa/glsa-200510-04.xml


--
Thomas Houssin

Security Team Leader Source Mage GNU/Linux (http://www.sourcemage.org)
Key fingerprint = 3CB8 3FC4 840D B272 E623 BCB8 54DB F4E3 4240 4C36
http://pgp.mit.edu:11371/pks/lookup?op=get&search=0x42404C36



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  • [SM-Security] texinfo: symlink attack, Thomas Houssin, 11/13/2005

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