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Home >> Browse Vulnerability Assessment Database >> Gentoo Local Security Checks >> [GLSA-200510-04] Texinfo: Insecure temporary file creation

Vulnerability Assessment Details

[GLSA-200510-04] Texinfo: Insecure temporary file creation

Vulnerability Assessment Summary
Texinfo: Insecure temporary file creation

Detailed Explanation for this Vulnerability Assessment
The remote host is affected by the vulnerability described in GLSA-200510-04
(Texinfo: Insecure temporary file creation)

Frank Lichtenheld has discovered that the "sort_offline()"
function in texindex insecurely creates temporary files with
predictable filenames.

Impact

A local attacker could create symbolic links in the temporary
files directory, pointing to a valid file somewhere on the filesystem.
When texindex is executed, this would result in the file being
overwritten with the rights of the user running the application.

Workaround

There is no known workaround at this time.

References:
http://cve.mitre.org/cgi-bin/cvename.cgi?name=CVE-2005-3011

Solution:
All Texinfo users should upgrade to the latest version:
# emerge --sync
# emerge --ask --oneshot --verbose ">=sys-apps/texinfo-4.8-r1"

Network Security Threat Level: Medium

Networks Security ID:

Vulnerability Assessment Copyright: (C) 2005 Michel Arboi

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