Multiple X11 terminals: Local privilege escalation

Security Team Contact Address

Updated May 07, 2008

1. Gentoo Linux Security Advisory

Advisory Reference	GLSA 200805-03 / aterm eterm rxvt mrxvt multi-aterm wterm rxvt-unicode
Release Date	May 07, 2008
Latest Revision	May 10, 2008: 02
Impact	normal
Exploitable	local

Package	Vulnerable versions	Unaffected versions	Architecture(s)
x11-terms/aterm	< 1.0.1-r1	>= 1.0.1-r1	All supported architectures
x11-terms/eterm	< 0.9.4-r1	>= 0.9.4-r1	All supported architectures
x11-terms/mrxvt	< 0.5.3-r2	>= 0.5.3-r2	All supported architectures
x11-terms/multi-aterm	< 0.2.1-r1	>= 0.2.1-r1	All supported architectures
x11-terms/rxvt	< 2.7.10-r4	>= 2.7.10-r4	All supported architectures
x11-terms/rxvt-unicode	< 9.02-r1	>= 9.02-r1	All supported architectures
x11-terms/wterm	< 6.2.9-r3	>= 6.2.9-r3	All supported architectures

Related bugreports: #216833, #217819, #219746, #219750, #219754, #219760, #219762

Synopsis

A vulnerability was found in aterm, Eterm, Mrxvt, multi-aterm, RXVT, rxvt-unicode, and wterm, allowing for local privilege escalation.

2. Impact Information

Background

Aterm, Eterm, Mrxvt, multi-aterm, RXVT, rxvt-unicode, and wterm are X11 terminal emulators.

Description

Bernhard R. Link discovered that RXVT opens a terminal on :0 if the "-display" option is not specified and the DISPLAY environment variable is not set. Further research by the Gentoo Security Team has shown that aterm, Eterm, Mrxvt, multi-aterm, rxvt-unicode, and wterm are also affected.

Impact

A local attacker could exploit this vulnerability to hijack X11 terminals of other users.

3. Resolution Information

Workaround

There is no known workaround at this time.

Resolution

All aterm users should upgrade to the latest version:

Code Listing 3.1: Resolution

# emerge --sync
# emerge --ask --oneshot --verbose ">=x11-terms/aterm-1.0.1-r1"

All Eterm users should upgrade to the latest version:

Code Listing 3.2: Resolution

# emerge --sync
# emerge --ask --oneshot --verbose ">=x11-terms/eterm-0.9.4-r1"

All Mrxvt users should upgrade to the latest version:

Code Listing 3.3: Resolution

# emerge --sync
# emerge --ask --oneshot --verbose ">=x11-terms/mrxvt-0.5.3-r2"

All multi-aterm users should upgrade to the latest version:

Code Listing 3.4: Resolution

# emerge --sync
# emerge --ask --oneshot --verbose ">=x11-terms/multi-aterm-0.2.1-r1"

All RXVT users should upgrade to the latest version:

Code Listing 3.5: Resolution

# emerge --sync
# emerge --ask --oneshot --verbose ">=x11-terms/rxvt-2.7.10-r4"

All rxvt-unicode users should upgrade to the latest version:

Code Listing 3.6: Resolution

# emerge --sync
# emerge --ask --oneshot --verbose ">=x11-terms/rxvt-unicode-9.02-r1"

All wterm users should upgrade to the latest version:

Code Listing 3.7: Resolution

# emerge --sync
# emerge --ask --oneshot --verbose ">=x11-terms/wterm-6.2.9-r3"

4. References