SplitVT: Privilege escalation

Security Team  Contact Address

Updated March 03, 2008

1.  Gentoo Linux Security Advisory

Version Information

Advisory Reference GLSA 200803-05 / splitvt
Release Date March 03, 2008
Latest Revision March 03, 2008: 01
Impact high
Exploitable local
Package Vulnerable versions Unaffected versions Architecture(s)
app-misc/splitvt < 1.6.6-r1 >= 1.6.6-r1 All supported architectures

Related bugreports: #211240

Synopsis

A vulnerability in SplitVT may allow local users to gain escalated privileges.

2.  Impact Information

Background

SplitVT is a program for splitting terminals into two shells.

Description

Mike Ashton reported that SplitVT does not drop group privileges before executing the xprop utility.

Impact

A local attacker could exploit this vulnerability to gain the "utmp" group privileges.

3.  Resolution Information

Workaround

There is no known workaround at this time.

Resolution

All SplitVT users should upgrade to the latest version:

Code Listing 3.1: Resolution

# emerge --sync
# emerge --ask --oneshot --verbose ">=app-misc/splitvt-1.6.6-r1"

4.  References