teTeX, pTeX, CSTeX: Multiple vulnerabilities

1. Gentoo Linux Security Advisory

Advisory Reference	GLSA 200501-31 / teTeX
Release Date	January 23, 2005
Latest Revision	January 23, 2005: 01
Impact	normal
Exploitable	remote and local

Package	Vulnerable versions	Unaffected versions	Architecture(s)
app-text/tetex	< 2.0.2-r5	>= 2.0.2-r5	All supported architectures
app-text/cstetex	< 2.0.2-r1	>= 2.0.2-r1	All supported architectures
app-text/ptex	< 3.1.4-r2	>= 3.1.4-r2	All supported architectures

Related bugreports: #75801

Synopsis

teTeX, pTeX and CSTeX make use of vulnerable Xpdf code which may allow the remote execution of arbitrary code. Furthermore, the xdvizilla script is vulnerable to temporary file handling issues.

2. Impact Information

Background

teTeX is a complete and open source TeX distribution. CSTeX is another TeX distribution including Czech and Slovak support. pTeX is another alternative that allows Japanese publishing with TeX. xdvizilla is an auxiliary script used to integrate DVI file viewing in Mozilla-based browsers.

Description

teTeX, pTeX and CSTeX all make use of Xpdf code and may therefore be vulnerable to the various overflows that were discovered in Xpdf code (CAN-2004-0888, CAN-2004-0889, CAN-2004-1125 and CAN-2005-0064). Furthermore, Javier Fernandez-Sanguino Pena discovered that the xdvizilla script does not handle temporary files correctly.

Impact

An attacker could design a malicious input file which, when processed using one of the TeX distributions, could lead to the execution of arbitrary code. Furthermore, a local attacker could create symbolic links in the temporary files directory, pointing to a valid file somewhere on the filesystem. When xdvizilla is called, this would result in the file being overwritten with the rights of the user running the script.

3. Resolution Information

Workaround

There is no known workaround at this time.

Resolution

All teTeX users should upgrade to the latest version:

Code Listing 3.1: Resolution

# emerge --sync
# emerge --ask --oneshot --verbose ">=app-text/tetex-2.0.2-r5"

All CSTeX users should also upgrade to the latest version:

Code Listing 3.2: Resolution

# emerge --sync
# emerge --ask --oneshot --verbose ">=app-text/cstetex-2.0.2-r1"

Finally, all pTeX users should upgrade to the latest version:

Code Listing 3.3: Resolution

# emerge --sync
# emerge --ask --oneshot --verbose ">=app-text/ptex-3.1.4-r2"

4. References

Updated January 23, 2005

Summary: This is a Gentoo Linux Security Advisory

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