Gentoo: GLSA-201612-12: Patch: Denial of Service
Summary
Due to a flaw in Patch, the application can enter an infinite loop when processing a specially crafted diff file.
Resolution
All patch users should upgrade to the latest version:
# emerge --sync
# emerge --ask --oneshot --verbose ">=sys-devel/patch-2.7.4"
References
Availability
This GLSA and any updates to it are available for viewing at
the Gentoo Security Website:
https://security.gentoo.org/glsa/201612-12
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 https://bugs.gentoo.org.
Synopsis
Patch is vulnerable to a locally generated Denial of Service condition.
Background
Patch takes a patch file containing a difference listing produced by the diff program and applies those differences to one or more original files, producing patched versions.
Affected Packages
------------------------------------------------------------------- Package / Vulnerable / Unaffected ------------------------------------------------------------------- 1 sys-devel/patch < 2.7.4 >= 2.7.4
Impact
===== A local attacker could pass a specially crafted diff file to Patch, possibly resulting in a Denial of Service condition.
Workaround
There is no known workaround at this time.