Gaim: New vulnerabilities

1.  Gentoo Linux Security Advisory

Version Information

Related bugreports: #61457

Synopsis

Gaim contains several security issues that might allow an attacker to execute arbitrary code or commands.

2.  Impact Information

Background

Gaim is a multi-protocol instant messaging client for Linux which supports many instant messaging protocols.

Description

Gaim fails to do proper bounds checking when:

• Handling MSN messages (partially fixed with GLSA 200408-12).
• Handling rich text format messages.
• Resolving local hostname.
• Receiving long URLs.
• Handling groupware messages.
• Allocating memory for webpages with fake content-length header.

Furthermore Gaim fails to escape filenames when using drag and drop installation of smiley themes.

Impact

These vulnerabilites could allow an attacker to crash Gaim or execute arbitrary code or commands with the permissions of the user running Gaim.

3.  Resolution Information

Workaround

There is no known workaround at this time. All users are encouraged to upgrade to the latest available version of Gaim.

Resolution

All gaim users should upgrade to the latest version:

# emerge sync

# emerge -pv ">=net-im/gaim-0.81-r5"
# emerge ">=net-im/gaim-0.81-r5"

4.  References

• Gaim security issues
• CVE-2004-0500
• CVE-2004-0754
• CVE-2004-0784
• CVE-2004-0785