SKK Tools: Insecure temporary file creation

1. Gentoo Linux Security Advisory

Advisory Reference	GLSA 200710-10 / skktools
Release Date	October 12, 2007
Latest Revision	October 12, 2007: 01
Impact	normal
Exploitable	local

Package	Vulnerable versions	Unaffected versions	Architecture(s)
app-i18n/skktools	< 1.2-r1	>= 1.2-r1	All supported architectures

Related bugreports: #193121

Synopsis

SKK insecurely creates temporary files.

2. Impact Information

Background

SKK is a Japanese input method for Emacs.

Description

skkdic-expr.c insecurely writes temporary files to a location in the form $TMPDIR/skkdic$PID.{pag,dir,db}, where $PID is the process ID.

Impact

A local attacker could create symbolic links in the directory where the temporary files are written, pointing to a valid file somewhere on the filesystem that is writable by the user running the SKK software. When SKK writes the temporary file, the target valid file would then be overwritten with the contents of the SKK temporary file.

3. Resolution Information

Workaround

There is no known workaround at this time.

Resolution

All SKK Tools users should upgrade to the latest version:

Code Listing 3.1: Resolution

# emerge --sync
# emerge --ask --oneshot --verbose ">=app-i18n/skktools-1.2-r1"

4. References

CVE-2007-3916

Page updated October 12, 2007

Summary: This is a Gentoo Linux Security Advisory

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