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Arch Linux: ASA-201609-20 High: Irssi Remote Code Execution Threat

Calendar Sep 22, 2016 • User Avatar LinuxSecurity Advisories
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security advisory high severity remote code arbitrary execution irssi arch linux
The package irssi before version 0.8.20-1 is vulnerable to arbitrary code execution. 
Arch Linux Security Advisory ASA-201609-20
=========================================
Severity: High
Date    : 2016-09-22
CVE-ID  : CVE-2016-7045
Package : irssi
Type    : arbitrary code execution
Remote  : Yes
Link    : https://wiki.archlinux.org/title/CVE

Summary
======
The package irssi before version 0.8.20-1 is vulnerable to arbitrary
code execution.

Resolution
=========
Upgrade to 0.8.20-1.

# pacman -Syu "irssi>=0.8.20-1"

The problem has been fixed upstream in version 0.8.20.

Workaround
=========
None.

Description
==========
The format_send_to_gui() function does not validate the length of the string
before incrementing the `ptr' pointer in all cases.

If that happens, the pointer `ptr' can be incremented twice and thus end past
the boundaries of the original `dup' buffer.

Remote code execution might be difficult since only Nuls are written.

Impact
=====
A remote attacker can perform a denial of service attack or possibly execute
arbitrary code on the affected host.

References
=========
https://irssi.org/security/irssi_sa_2016.txt
https://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2016/09/21/11
https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2016-7045