R: Insecure temporary file creation

1. Gentoo Linux Security Advisory

Package	Vulnerable versions	Unaffected versions	Architecture(s)
dev-lang/R	< 2.7.1	>= 2.7.1	All supported architectures

Related bugreports: #235822

R is vulnerable to symlink attacks due to an insecure usage of temporary files.

2. Impact Information

R is a GPL licensed implementation of S, a language and environment for statistical computing and graphics.

Dmitry E. Oboukhov reported that the "javareconf" script uses temporary files in an insecure manner.

A local attacker could exploit this vulnerability to overwrite arbitrary files with the privileges of the user running the application.

3. Resolution Information

There is no known workaround at this time.

All R users should upgrade to the latest version:

Code Listing 3.1: Resolution

# emerge --sync
# emerge --ask --oneshot --verbose ">=dev-lang/R-2.7.1"

4. References

Page updated September 22, 2008

Summary: This is a Gentoo Linux Security Advisory

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