[ GLSA 200805-03 ] Multiple X11 terminals: Local privilege escalation

[Tobias Heinlein <keytoaster () gentoo org>]

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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-r1"

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-r1"

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

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