GNU Emacs hack-local-variables function security bypass
| emacs-hacklocalvariables-security-bypass (38263) |  Medium Risk |
Description:
GNU Emacs could allow a remote attacker to bypass security restrictions, caused by an error in the hack-local-variables function. By persuading a victim to open a file with the "enable-local-variables" set to ":safe", a remote attacker could exploit this vulnerability to bypass security restrictions and execute arbitrary Emacs Lisp code on the vulnerable system.
Platforms Affected:
- Apple, Mac OS X 10.5.2
- Apple, Mac OS X Server 10.5.2
- Application Security, AppDetective
- Canonical, Ubuntu 7.10
- Gentoo, Linux
- GNU, emacs 20.0
- GNU, emacs 20.1
- GNU, emacs 20.2
- GNU, emacs 20.3
- GNU, emacs 20.4
- GNU, emacs 20.5
- GNU, emacs 20.6
- GNU, emacs 21
- GNU, emacs 21.2.1
- GNU, emacs 21.3
- GNU, emacs 21.3.1
- GNU, emacs 21.4a
- GNU, emacs 22.1
- MandrakeSoft, Mandrake Linux 2007
- MandrakeSoft, Mandrake Linux 2007 X86_64
- MandrakeSoft, Mandrake Linux 2007.1
- MandrakeSoft, Mandrake Linux 2007.1 X86_64
- MandrakeSoft, Mandrake Linux 2008.0 X86_64
- MandrakeSoft, Mandrake Linux 2008.0
- MandrakeSoft, Mandrake Linux Corporate Server 3.0
- MandrakeSoft, Mandrake Linux Corporate Server 3.0 X86_64
- MandrakeSoft, Mandrake Linux Corporate Server 4.0
- MandrakeSoft, Mandrake Linux Corporate Server 4.0 X86_64
Remedy:
Apply patch available from the GNU Emacs CVS Repository. See References.
For Mac OS X:
Apply Security Update 2008-002, available from the Apple Web site. See References.
For other distributions:
Apply the appropriate upgrade for your system. See References.
Consequences:
Bypass Security
References:
- Apple Web site, About Security Update 2008-002 at http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=307562.
- Debian Bug report logs - #449008, emacs22-common: enable-local-variables :safe mode acts like :all at http://bugs.debian.org/cgi-bin/bugreport.cgi?bug=449008.
- GNU Emacs CVS Repository, GNU Emacs at http://cvs.savannah.gnu.org/viewvc/emacs/emacs/lisp/files.el?r1=1.896.2.28&r2=1.896.2.29.
- GNU Project Web site, GNU Emacs at http://www.gnu.org/software/emacs/emacs.html.
- BID-26327: GNU Emacs Local Variable Handling Code Execution Vulnerability
- CVE-2007-5795: The hack-local-variables function in Emacs before 22.2, when enable-local-variables is set to :safe, does not properly search lists of unsafe or risky variables, which might allow user-assisted attackers to bypass intended restrictions and modify critical program variables via a file containing a Local variables declaration.
- GLSA-200712-03: GNU Emacs: Multiple vulnerabilities
- MDVSA-2008:034: Updated emacs packages fix vulnerabilities
- SA27508: GNU Emacs Local Variable Processing Vulnerability
- SA29420: Mac OS X Security Update Fixes Multiple Vulnerabilities
- USN-541-1: Emacs vulnerability
- VUPEN/ADV-2007-3715: GNU Emacs Local Variable Processing Security Bypass Vulnerability
- VUPEN/ADV-2008-0924: Apple Mac OS X Command Execution and Security Bypass Issues
Reported:
Nov 02, 2007
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