Motor: Execution of arbitrary code

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Updated August 29, 2006

1.  Gentoo Linux Security Advisory

Version Information

Advisory Reference GLSA 200608-27 / motor
Release Date August 29, 2006
Latest Revision August 29, 2006: 01
Impact normal
Exploitable remote
Package Vulnerable versions Unaffected versions Architecture(s)
dev-util/motor < 3.4.0-r1 revision >= 3.3.0-r1, >= 3.4.0-r1 All supported architectures

Related bugreports: #135020

Synopsis

Motor uses a vulnerable ktools library, which could lead to the execution of arbitrary code.

2.  Impact Information

Background

Motor is a text mode based programming environment for Linux, with a syntax highlighting feature, project manager, makefile generator, gcc and gdb front-end, and CVS integration.

Description

In November 2005, Zone-H Research reported a boundary error in the ktools library in the VGETSTRING() macro of kkstrtext.h, which may cause a buffer overflow via an overly long input string.

Impact

A remote attacker could entice a user to use a malicious file or input, which could lead to the crash of Motor and possibly the execution of arbitrary code.

3.  Resolution Information

Workaround

There is no known workaround at this time.

Resolution

All Motor 3.3.x users should upgrade to the latest version:

Code Listing 3.1: Resolution

# emerge --sync
# emerge --ask --oneshot --verbose ">=dev-util/motor-3.3.0-r1"

All motor 3.4.x users should upgrade to the latest version:

Code Listing 3.2: Resolution

# emerge --sync
# emerge --ask --oneshot --verbose ">=dev-util/motor-3.4.0-r1"

4.  References