pstotext: Remote execution of arbitrary code

1. Gentoo Linux Security Advisory

Advisory Reference	GLSA 200507-29 / pstotext
Release Date	July 31, 2005
Latest Revision	August 11, 2005: 02
Impact	normal
Exploitable	remote

Package	Vulnerable versions	Unaffected versions	Architecture(s)
app-text/pstotext	< 1.8g-r1	>= 1.8g-r1	All supported architectures

Related bugreports: #100245

Synopsis

pstotext contains a vulnerability which can potentially result in the execution of arbitrary code.

2. Impact Information

Background

pstotext is a program that works with GhostScript to extract plain text from PostScript and PDF files.

Description

Max Vozeler reported that pstotext calls the GhostScript interpreter on untrusted PostScript files without specifying the -dSAFER option.

Impact

An attacker could craft a malicious PostScript file and entice a user to run pstotext on it, resulting in the execution of arbitrary commands with the permissions of the user running pstotext.

3. Resolution Information

Workaround

There is no known workaround at this time.

Resolution

All pstotext users should upgrade to the latest version:

Code Listing 3.1: Resolution

# emerge --sync
# emerge --ask --oneshot --verbose ">=app-text/pstotext-1.8g-r1"

4. References

Page updated July 31, 2005

Summary: This is a Gentoo Linux Security Advisory

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