[ GLSA 200711-32 ] Feynmf: Insecure temporary file creation

2007-11-2100:00:00

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Gentoo Linux Security Advisory GLSA 200711-32

                                        http://security.gentoo.org/

Severity: Normal
Title: Feynmf: Insecure temporary file creation
Date: November 20, 2007
Bugs: #198231
ID: 200711-32

Synopsis

A vulnerability has been discovered in Feynmf allowing local users to
overwrite arbitrary files via a symlink attack.

Background

Feynmf is a combined LaTeX and Metafont package for easy drawing of
professional quality Feynman (and maybe other) diagrams.

Affected packages

-------------------------------------------------------------------
 Package         /  Vulnerable  /                       Unaffected
-------------------------------------------------------------------

1 dev-tex/feynmf < 1.08-r2 >= 1.08-r2

Description

Kevin B. McCarty discovered that the feynmf.pl script creates a
temporary "properly list" file at the location "$TMPDIR/feynmf$PID.pl",
where $PID is the process ID.

Impact

A local attacker could create symbolic links in the directory where the
temporary files are written, pointing to a valid file somewhere on the
filesystem that is writable by the user running Feynmf. When Feynmf
writes the temporary file, the target valid file would then be
overwritten with the contents of the Feynmf temporary file.

Workaround

There is no known workaround at this time.

Resolution

All Feynmf users should upgrade to the latest version:

# emerge --sync
# emerge --ask --oneshot --verbose &quot;&gt;=dev-tex/feynmf-1.08-r2&quot;

References

[ 1 ] CVE-2007-5940
http://cve.mitre.org/cgi-bin/cvename.cgi?name=CVE-2007-5940

Availability

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

http://security.gentoo.org/glsa/glsa-200711-32.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
[email protected] or alternatively, you may file a bug at
http://bugs.gentoo.org.