XEmacs and GNU Emacs vcdiff utility symlink
| xemacs-gnuemacs-vcdiff-symlink (41906) |  Medium Risk |
Description:
XEmacs and GNU Emacs could allow a local attacker to launch a symlink attack. The vcdiff utility uses a predictable temporary file insecurely. A local attacker could exploit this vulnerability by creating a symbolic link from the temporary file to other files on the system, which would allow the attacker to overwrite arbitrary files on the system with elevated privileges.
*CVSS:
| Base Score: | 3.3 |
| Access Vector: | Local |
| Access Complexity: | Medium |
| Authentication: | None |
| Confidentiality Impact: | None |
| Integrity Impact: | Partial |
| Availability Impact: | Partial |
| Temporal Score: | 2.9 |
| Exploitability: | High |
| Remediation Level: | Official-Fix |
| Report Confidence: | Confirmed |
Consequences:
File Manipulation
Remedy:
For GNU Emacs:
Apply the fix, available from the GNU Emacs CVS Repository. See References.
For other distributions:
Apply the appropriate update for your system. See References.
References:
- GNU Emacs CVS Repository: emacs - CVS Repositories.
- GNU Web site: Index of ftp.gnu.org/gnu/emacs.
- Red Hat Bugzilla Bug 208483: CVE-2008-1694 emacs insecure /tmp file usage.
- XEmacs Web site: XEmacs: The next generation of Emacs.
- BID-28857: GNU Emacs Insecure Temporary File Creation Vulnerability
- CVE-2008-1694: vcdiff in Emacs 20.7 to 22.1.50, when used with SCCS, allows local users to overwrite arbitrary files via a symlink attack on temporary files.
- MDVSA-2008:096: Updated emacs packages fix vulnerability in vcdiff
- SA29905: GNU Emacs vcdiff Insecure Temporary Files
- SA29926: XEmacs vcdiff Insecure Temporary Files
- SECTRACK ID: 1019909: GNU Emacs vcdiff Unsafe Temporary File Lets Local Users Gain Elevated Privileges
- USN-607-1: Emacs vulnerabilities
- VUPEN/ADV-2008-1309: GNU Emacs vcdiff Insecure Temporary File Creation Vulnerability
- VUPEN/ADV-2008-1310: XEmacs vcdiff Script Insecure Temporary File Creation Vulnerability
Platforms Affected:
- Canonical Ubuntu 6.06 LTS
- Canonical Ubuntu 7.04
- Canonical Ubuntu 7.10
- Canonical Ubuntu 8.04 LTS
- GNU emacs 21.4a
- GNU emacs 22.2
- GNU XEmacs 21.1.10
- MandrakeSoft Mandrake Linux 2007.1
- MandrakeSoft Mandrake Linux 2007.1 X86_64
- MandrakeSoft Mandrake Linux 2008.0
- MandrakeSoft Mandrake Linux 2008.0 X86_64
- MandrakeSoft Mandrake Linux 2008.1 X86_64
- MandrakeSoft Mandrake Linux 2008.1
- MandrakeSoft Mandrake Linux Corporate Server 3.0 X86_64
- MandrakeSoft Mandrake Linux Corporate Server 3.0
- MandrakeSoft Mandrake Linux Corporate Server 4.0
- MandrakeSoft Mandrake Linux Corporate Server 4.0 X86_64
Reported:
Apr 08, 2008
The information within this database may change without notice. Use of this information constitutes acceptance for use in an AS IS condition. There are NO warranties, implied or otherwise, with regard to this information or its use. Any use of this information is at the user's risk. In no event shall the author/distributor (IBM Internet Security Systems X-Force) be held liable for any damages whatsoever arising out of or in connection with the use or spread of this information.
For corrections or additions please email xforce@iss.net
* According to the Forum of Incident Response and Security Teams (FIRST), the Common Vulnerability Scoring System (CVSS) is an "industry open standard designed to convey vulnerability severity and help to determine urgency and priority of response." IBM PROVIDES THE CVSS SCORES "AS IS" WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, INCLUDING THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. CUSTOMERS ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR ASSESSING THE IMPACT OF ANY ACTUAL OR POTENTIAL SECURITY VULNERABILITY.
The information within this database may change without notice. Use of this information constitutes acceptance for use in an AS IS condition. There are NO warranties, implied or otherwise, with regard to this information or its use. Any use of this information is at the user's risk. In no event shall IBM be held liable for any damages whatsoever arising out of or in connection with the use or spread of this information.