A new security update has been released for Gentoo Linux - Multiple X11 terminals: Local privilege escalation. Here the announcement:
Gentoo Linux Security Advisory GLSA 200805-03
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http://security.gentoo.org/
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Severity: Normal
Title: Multiple X11 terminals: Local privilege escalation
Date: May 07, 2008
Bugs: #216833, #217819, #219746, #219750, #219754, #219760, #219762=
ID: 200805-03
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Synopsis
========
A vulnerability was found in aterm, Eterm, Mrxvt, multi-aterm, RXVT,
rxvt-unicode, and wterm, allowing for local privilege escalation.
Background
==========
Aterm, Eterm, Mrxvt, multi-aterm, RXVT, rxvt-unicode, and wterm are X11
terminal emulators.
Affected packages
=================
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Package / Vulnerable / Unaffected
-------------------------------------------------------------------
1 x11-terms/aterm < 1.0.1-r1 >= 1.0.1-r1
2 x11-terms/eterm < 0.9.4-r1 >= 0.9.4-r1
3 x11-terms/mrxvt < 0.5.3-r2 >= 0.5.3-r2
4 x11-terms/multi-aterm < 0.2.1-r1 >= 0.2.1-r1
5 x11-terms/rxvt < 2.7.10-r4 >= 2.7.10-r4
6 x11-terms/rxvt-unicode < 9.02-r1 >= 9.02-r1
7 x11-terms/wterm < 6.2.9-r3 >= 6.2.9-r3
-------------------------------------------------------------------
7 affected packages on all of their supported architectures.
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Description
===========
Bernhard R. Link discovered that Eterm opens a terminal on :0 if the
"-display" option is not specified and the DISPLAY environment variable
is not set. Further research by the Gentoo Security Team has shown that
aterm, Mrxvt, multi-aterm, RXVT, rxvt-unicode, and wterm are also
affected.
Impact
======
A local attacker could exploit this vulnerability to hijack X11
terminals of other users.
Workaround
==========
There is no known workaround at this time.
Resolution
==========
All aterm users should upgrade to the latest version:
# emerge --sync
# emerge --ask --oneshot --verbose ">=x11-terms/aterm-1.0.1-r1"
All Eterm users should upgrade to the latest version:
# emerge --sync
# emerge --ask --oneshot --verbose ">=x11-terms/eterm-0.9.4-r1"
All Mrxvt users should upgrade to the latest version:
# emerge --sync
# emerge --ask --oneshot --verbose ">=x11-terms/mrxvt-0.5.3-r2"
All multi-aterm users should upgrade to the latest version:
# emerge --sync
# emerge --ask --oneshot --verbose ">=x11-terms/multi-aterm-0.2.1-r=
1"
All RXVT users should upgrade to the latest version:
# emerge --sync
# emerge --ask --oneshot --verbose ">=x11-terms/rxvt-2.7.10-r4"
All rxvt-unicode users should upgrade to the latest version:
# emerge --sync
# emerge --ask --oneshot --verbose ">=x11-terms/rxvt-unicode-9.02-r=
1"
All wterm users should upgrade to the latest version:
# emerge --sync
# emerge --ask --oneshot --verbose ">=x11-terms/wterm-6.2.9-r3"
References
==========
[ 1 ] CVE-2008-1142
http://cve.mitre.org/cgi-bin/cvename.cgi?name=CVE-2008-1142
[ 2 ] CVE-2008-1692
http://cve.mitre.org/cgi-bin/cvename.cgi?name=CVE-2008-1692
Availability
============
This GLSA and any updates to it are available for viewing at
the Gentoo Security Website:
http://security.gentoo.org/glsa/glsa-200805-03.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 2008 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/2.5
