Linux xosview HOME environment variable buffer overflow
| linux-xosview-bo (8787) |  High Risk |
Description:
xosview is vulnerable to a buffer overflow. By setting the HOME environment variable to an overly large value, a local attacker could overflow a buffer and execute arbitrary code on the system with root privileges.
Platforms Affected:
- RedHat, Linux 5.1
- RedHat, xosview 1.5.1
Remedy:
For Red Hat Linux 5.1:
Upgrade to the latest version of xosview (1.5.1-4 or later), as listed in Red Hat Linux 5.1General Errata. See References.
Consequences:
Gain Privileges
References:
- BugTraq Mailing List, Fri, 29 May 1998 18:14:22 +0100, Re: Tiresome security hole in "xosview" (xosexp.c) at http://archives.neohapsis.com/archives/bugtraq/1998_2/0431.html.
- BugTraq Mailing List, Thu, 28 May 1998 04:49:17 +0100, ALERT: Tiresome security hole in "xosview", RedHat5.1? at http://archives.neohapsis.com/archives/bugtraq/1998_2/0415.html.
- Red Hat Linux 5.1 General Errata, xosview at http://www.redhat.com/support/errata/rh51-errata-general.html#xosview.
- BID-362: Linux xosview Vulnerability
- CVE-1999-1490: xosview 1.5.1 in Red Hat 5.1 allows local users to gain root access via a long HOME environmental variable.
Reported:
May 27, 1998
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