yelp: User-assisted execution of arbitrary code

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Updated September 04, 2008

1.  Gentoo Linux Security Advisory

Version Information

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