[ GLSA 200412-04 ] Perl: Insecure temporary file creation

[Luke Macken <lewk () gentoo org>]

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Gentoo Linux Security Advisory                           GLSA 200412-04
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                                            http://security.gentoo.org/
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  Severity: Normal
     Title: Perl: Insecure temporary file creation
      Date: December 07, 2004
      Bugs: #66360
        ID: 200412-04

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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 being
overwritten 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

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