yelp: User-assisted execution of arbitrary code

1. Gentoo Linux Security Advisory

Advisory Reference	GLSA 200809-01 / yelp
Release Date	September 04, 2008
Latest Revision	September 04, 2008: 01
Impact	normal
Exploitable	remote

Package	Vulnerable versions	Unaffected versions	Architecture(s)
gnome-extra/yelp	< 2.22.1-r2	>= 2.22.1-r2, revision >= 2.20.0-r1	All supported architectures

Related bugreports: #234079

Synopsis

A vulnerability in yelp can lead to the execution of arbitrary code when opening a URI, for example through Firefox.

2. Impact Information

Background

yelp is the default help browser for GNOME.

Description

Aaron Grattafiori reported a format string vulnerability in the window_error() function in yelp-window.c.

Impact

A remote attacker can entice a user to open specially crafted "man:" or "ghelp:" URIs in yelp, or an application using yelp such as Firefox or Evolution, and execute arbitrary code with the privileges of that user.

3. Resolution Information

Workaround

There is no known workaround at this time.

Resolution

All yelp users running GNOME 2.22 should upgrade to the latest version:

Code Listing 3.1: Resolution

# emerge --sync
# emerge --ask --oneshot --verbose ">=gnome-extra/yelp-2.22.1-r2"

All yelp users running GNOME 2.20 should upgrade to the latest version:

Code Listing 3.2: Resolution

# emerge --sync
# emerge --ask --oneshot --verbose ">=gnome-extra/yelp-2.20.0-r1"

4. References

CVE-2008-3533

Page updated September 04, 2008

Summary: This is a Gentoo Linux Security Advisory

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