The ed utility is vulnerable to symlink attacks, potentially allowing a local user to overwrite or change rights on arbitrary files with the rights of the user running ed, which could be the root user. [More...]. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Gentoo Linux Security Advisory GLSA 200410-07 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - https://security.gentoo.org/ - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Severity: Normal Title: ed: Insecure temporary file handling Date: October 09, 2004 Bugs: #66400 ID: 200410-07 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Synopsis ======= The ed utility is vulnerable to symlink attacks, potentially allowing a local user to overwrite or change rights on arbitrary files with the rights of the user running ed, which could be the root user. Background ========= ed is a line-oriented text editor, used to create or modify text files, both interactively and via shell scripts. Affected packages ================ ------------------------------------------------------------------- Package / Vulnerable / Unaffected ------------------------------------------------------------------- 1 sys-apps/ed = 0.2-r4 Description ========== ed insecurely creates temporary files in world-writeable directories with predictable names. Given that ed is used in various system shell scripts, they are by extension affected by the same vulnerability. Impact ===== A local attacker could create symbolic links in the temporary files directory, pointing to a valid file somewhere on the filesystem. When ed is called, this would result in file access 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 ed users shouldupgrade to the latest version: # emerge sync # emerge -pv "> =sys-apps/ed-0.2-r4" # emerge "> =sys-apps/ed-0.2-r4" References ========= [ 1 ] CVE-2000-1137 https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2000-1137 Availability =========== This GLSA and any updates to it are available for viewing at the Gentoo Security Website: https://security.gentoo.org/glsa/200410-07 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
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