Feynmf: Insecure temporary file creation

1. Gentoo Linux Security Advisory

Advisory Reference	GLSA 200711-32 / feynmf
Release Date	November 20, 2007
Latest Revision	November 20, 2007: 01
Impact	normal
Exploitable	local

Package	Vulnerable versions	Unaffected versions	Architecture(s)
dev-tex/feynmf	< 1.08-r2	>= 1.08-r2	All supported architectures

Related bugreports: #198231

Synopsis

A vulnerability has been discovered in Feynmf allowing local users to overwrite arbitrary files via a symlink attack.

2. Impact Information

Background

Feynmf is a combined LaTeX and Metafont package for easy drawing of professional quality Feynman (and maybe other) diagrams.

Description

Kevin B. McCarty discovered that the feynmf.pl script creates a temporary "properly list" file at the location "$TMPDIR/feynmf$PID.pl", 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 Feynmf. When Feynmf writes the temporary file, the target valid file would then be overwritten with the contents of the Feynmf temporary file.

3. Resolution Information

Workaround

There is no known workaround at this time.

Resolution

All Feynmf users should upgrade to the latest version:

Code Listing 3.1: Resolution

# emerge --sync
# emerge --ask --oneshot --verbose ">=dev-tex/feynmf-1.08-r2"

4. References

CVE-2007-5940

Page updated November 20, 2007

Summary: This is a Gentoo Linux Security Advisory

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