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Home >> Browse Vulnerability Assessment Database >> Gentoo Local Security Checks >> [GLSA-200603-07] flex: Potential insecure code generation

Vulnerability Assessment Details

[GLSA-200603-07] flex: Potential insecure code generation

Vulnerability Assessment Summary
flex: Potential insecure code generation

Detailed Explanation for this Vulnerability Assessment
The remote host is affected by the vulnerability described in GLSA-200603-07
(flex: Potential insecure code generation)

Chris Moore discovered a buffer overflow in a special class of
lexicographical scanners generated by flex. Only scanners generated by
grammars which use either REJECT, or rules with a "variable trailing
context" might be at risk.

Impact

A possible hacker could feed malicious input to an application making
use of an affected scanner and trigger the buffer overflow, potentially
resulting in the execution of arbitrary code.

Workaround

Avoid using vulnerable grammar in your flex scanners.

References:
http://cve.mitre.org/cgi-bin/cvename.cgi?name=CVE-2006-0459

Solution:
All flex users should upgrade to the latest version:
# emerge --sync
# emerge --ask --oneshot --verbose ">=sys-devel/flex-2.5.33-r1"

Network Security Threat Level: Medium

Networks Security ID:

Vulnerability Assessment Copyright: (C) 2006 Michel Arboi

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