Debian DSA-207-1 : tetex-bin - arbitrary command execution

high Nessus Plugin ID 15044

Synopsis

The remote Debian host is missing a security-related update.

Description

The SuSE security team discovered a vulnerability in kpathsea library (libkpathsea) which is used by xdvi and dvips. Both programs call the system() function insecurely, which allows a remote attacker to execute arbitrary commands via cleverly crafted DVI files.

If dvips is used in a print filter, this allows a local or remote attacker with print permission execute arbitrary code as the printer user (usually lp).

Solution

Upgrade the tetex-lib package immediately.

This problem has been fixed in version 1.0.7+20011202-7.1 for the current stable distribution (woody), in version 1.0.6-7.3 for the old stable distribution (potato) and in version 1.0.7+20021025-4 for the unstable distribution (sid). xdvik-ja and dvipsk-ja are vulnerable as well, but link to the kpathsea library dynamically and will automatically be fixed after a new libkpathsea is installed.

See Also

http://www.debian.org/security/2002/dsa-207

Plugin Details

Severity: High

ID: 15044

File Name: debian_DSA-207.nasl

Version: 1.16

Type: local

Agent: unix

Published: 9/29/2004

Updated: 1/4/2021

Supported Sensors: Frictionless Assessment Agent, Nessus Agent, Agentless Assessment, Nessus

Risk Information

VPR

Risk Factor: Medium

Score: 5.5

CVSS v2

Risk Factor: High

Base Score: 7.5

Vector: CVSS2#AV:N/AC:L/Au:N/C:P/I:P/A:P

Vulnerability Information

CPE: p-cpe:/a:debian:debian_linux:tetex-bin, cpe:/o:debian:debian_linux:2.2, cpe:/o:debian:debian_linux:3.0

Required KB Items: Host/local_checks_enabled, Host/Debian/release, Host/Debian/dpkg-l

Patch Publication Date: 12/11/2002

Reference Information

CVE: CVE-2002-0836

DSA: 207