Tomboy: User-assisted execution of arbitrary code

1. Gentoo Linux Security Advisory

Advisory Reference	GLSA 200711-12 / tomboy
Release Date	November 08, 2007
Latest Revision	November 08, 2007: 01
Impact	normal
Exploitable	local

Package	Vulnerable versions	Unaffected versions	Architecture(s)
app-misc/tomboy	< 0.8.1-r1	>= 0.8.1-r1	All supported architectures

Related bugreports: #189249

Synopsis

Tomboy doesn't properly handle environment variables, potentially allowing a local attacker to execute arbitrary code.

2. Impact Information

Background

Tomboy is a GTK-based desktop note-taking application written in C# and the Mono C#.

Description

Jan Oravec reported that the "/usr/bin/tomboy" script sets the "LD_LIBRARY_PATH" environment variable incorrectly, which might result in the current working directory (.) to be included when searching for dynamically linked libraries of the Mono Runtime application.

Impact

A local attacker could entice a user into running Tomboy in a directory containing a specially crafted library file to execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the user running Tomboy.

3. Resolution Information

Workaround

Do not run Tomboy from an untrusted working directory.

Resolution

All Tomboy users should upgrade to the latest version:

Code Listing 3.1: Resolution

# emerge --sync
# emerge --ask --oneshot --verbose ">=app-misc/tomboy-0.8.1-r1"

4. References

CVE-2005-4790

Page updated November 08, 2007

Summary: This is a Gentoo Linux Security Advisory

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