A Perl security update is available for Gentoo Linux

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Gentoo Linux Security Advisory GLSA 200412-04
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
http://security.gentoo.org/
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Severity: Normal
Title: Perl: Insecure temporary file creation
Date: December 07, 2004
Bugs: #66360
ID: 200412-04

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Synopsis
=======

Perl is vulnerable to symlink attacks, potentially allowing a local user to overwrite arbitrary files.



Background
=========

Perl is a stable, cross-platform programming language created by Larry Wall.

Affected packages
================

-------------------------------------------------------------------
Package / Vulnerable / Unaffected
-------------------------------------------------------------------
1 dev-lang/perl < 5.8.5-r2 *>= 5.8.5-r2
>= 5.8.6-r1
dev-lang/perl == 5.8.6 *>= 5.8.5-r2
>= 5.8.6-r1

Description
==========

Some Perl modules create temporary files in world-writable directories with predictable names.

Impact
=====

A local attacker could create symbolic links in the temporary files directory, pointing to a valid file somewhere on the filesystem. When a Perl script is executed, this would result in the file beingoverwritten with the rights of the user running the utility, which could be the root user.

Workaround
=========

There is no known workaround at this time.

Resolution
=========

All Perl users should upgrade to the latest version:

# emerge --sync
# emerge --ask --oneshot --verbose ">=perl-5.8.5-r2"

References
=========

[ 1 ] CAN-2004-0976
http://cve.mitre.org/cgi-bin/cvename.cgi?name=CAN-2004-0976
[ 2 ] Trustix Advisory #2004-0050
http://www.trustix.org/errata/2004/0050/

Availability
===========

This GLSA and any updates to it are available for viewing at the Gentoo Security Website:

http://security.gentoo.org/glsa/glsa-200412-04.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 http://bugs.gentoo.org.

License
======

Copyright 2004 Gentoo Foundation, Inc; referenced text belongs to its owner(s).

The contents of this document are licensed under the Creative Commons - Attribution / Share Alike license.

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0