GNU a2ps allows elevated privileges
| gnu-a2ps-gain-privileges (17127) |  High Risk |
Description:
GNU a2ps could allow a local attacker to obtain elevated privileges, caused by improper validation of shell escape characters in filenames. If a victim a uses wildcard characters in a filename that is the same as a filename controlled by a local attacker, the attacker could use this vulnerability to execute arbitrary code on the system.
Platforms Affected:
- Debian, Debian Linux 3.0
- FreeBSD, FreeBSD
- Gentoo, Linux
- GNU, A2ps 4.13
- MandrakeSoft, Mandrake Linux 10.0 AMD64
- MandrakeSoft, Mandrake Linux 10.0
- MandrakeSoft, Mandrake Linux 10.1 X86_64
- MandrakeSoft, Mandrake Linux 10.1
- MandrakeSoft, Mandrake Linux 9.2
- MandrakeSoft, Mandrake Linux 9.2 AMD64
- MandrakeSoft, Mandrake Linux Corporate Server 2.1 X86_64
- MandrakeSoft, Mandrake Linux Corporate Server 2.1
- OpenPKG, OpenPKG 2.1
- OpenPKG, OpenPKG 2.2
- OpenPKG, OpenPKG CURRENT
- Sun, JDS 2003
- Sun, JDS Release 2
- Turbolinux, Turbolinux 10 Desktop
- Turbolinux, Turbolinux 10 F...
- Turbolinux, Turbolinux 10 Server
- Turbolinux, Turbolinux 7 Server
- Turbolinux, Turbolinux 7 Workstation
- Turbolinux, Turbolinux 8 Server
- Turbolinux, Turbolinux 8 Workstation
- Turbolinux, Turbolinux Home
Remedy:
For FreeBSD:
Apply the 1.1 patch, available from the FreeBSD Application Support Documentation Vendors Search Web page. See References.
As a workaround, restrict the use of wildcards within a2ps command lines from untrusted sources.
For Sun JDS:
Apply the appropriate patch for your system, as listed below. Refer to Sun Alert ID: 57649 for more information. See References.
Linux Platform
Sun Java Desktop System (JDS) 2003 with the updated RPMs (patch-9340)
Sun Java Desktop System (JDS) Release 2 with the updated RPMs (patch-9340)
For Mandrake Linux:
Upgrade to the latest a2ps package, as listed below. Refer to MandrakeSoft Security Advisory MDKSA-2004:140 for more information. See References.
Mandrake Linux 10.1: 4.13b-5.1.101mdk or later
Mandrake Linux 9.2: 4.13b-5.1.92mdk or later
Mandrake Linux Corporate Server 2.1: 4.13-14.1.C21mdk or later
Mandrake Linux 10.0: 4.13b-5.1.100mdk or later
For Debian Linux:
Upgrade to the latest a2ps package. Refer to DSA-612-1 for more information. See References.
For Gentoo Linux:
Upgrade to the latest version of a2ps (4.13c-r2 or later), as listed in GLSA 200501-02. See References.
For Turbolinux:
Upgrade to the latest a2ps package, as listed below. Refer to Turbolinux Security Advisory TLSA-2005-8 for more information. See References.
Turbolinux 10 Server: 4.13-9 or later
Turbolinux Home: 4.13-9 or later
Turbolinux 10 Desktop: 4.13-9 or later
Turbolinux 8 Server: 4.13-9 or later
Turbolinux 8 Workstation: 4.13-9 or later
Turbolinux 7 Server: 4.13-9 or later
Turbolinux 7 Workstation: 4.13-9 or later
For OpenPKG:
Refer to OpenPKG Security Advisory OpenPKG-SA-2005.003 for patch, upgrade, or suggested workaround information. See References.
For other distributions:
Contact your vendor for upgrade or patch information.
Consequences:
Gain Privileges
References:
- FreeBSD Application Support Documentation Vendors Search Web page, ports/print/a2ps-letter/ at http://www.freebsd.org/cgi/cvsweb.cgi/~checkout~/ports/print/a2ps-letter/files/.
- Full-Disclosure Mailing List, Tue Aug 24 2004 - 06:01:47 CDT, a2ps executing shell commands from file name at http://archives.neohapsis.com/archives/fulldisclosure/2004-08/1026.html.
- GNU a2ps Web page, a2ps - GNU Project - Free Software Foundation (FSF) at http://www.gnu.org/software/a2ps/#introduction.
- Sun Alert ID: 57649, Security Vulnerability in "a2ps" May Allow A Local Unprivileged User to Execute Arbitrary Code at http://sunsolve.sun.com/search/document.do?assetkey=1-26-57649-1&searchclause.
- BID-11025: GNU a2ps File Name Command Execution Vulnerability
- CVE-2004-1170: a2ps 4.13 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary commands via shell metacharacters in the filename.
- DSA-612: a2ps -- unsanitised input
- GLSA-200501-02: a2ps: Multiple vulnerabilities
- MDKSA-2004:140: Updated a2ps packages fix vulnerability
- OpenPKG-SA-2005.003: a2ps
- SA12375: GNU a2ps Command Injection Vulnerability
Reported:
Aug 26, 2004
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