Debian DSA-260-1 : file - buffer overflow

medium Nessus Plugin ID 15097

Synopsis

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

Description

iDEFENSE discovered a buffer overflow vulnerability in the ELF format parsing of the 'file' command, one which can be used to execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the user running the command.
The vulnerability can be exploited by crafting a special ELF binary which is then input to file. This could be accomplished by leaving the binary on the file system and waiting for someone to use file to identify it, or by passing it to a service that uses file to classify input. (For example, some printer filters run file to determine how to process input going to a printer.)

Fixed packages are available in version 3.28-1.potato.1 for Debian 2.2 (potato) and version 3.37-3.1.woody.1 for Debian 3.0 (woody). We recommend you upgrade your file package immediately.

Solution

Upgrade the affected file package.

See Also

http://www.debian.org/security/2003/dsa-260

Plugin Details

Severity: Medium

ID: 15097

File Name: debian_DSA-260.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: 6.3

CVSS v2

Risk Factor: Medium

Base Score: 4.6

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

Vulnerability Information

CPE: p-cpe:/a:debian:debian_linux:file, 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: 3/13/2003

Reference Information

CVE: CVE-2003-0102

DSA: 260