GNU ed: User-assisted execution of arbitrary code

1. Gentoo Linux Security Advisory

Advisory Reference	GLSA 200809-15 / ed
Release Date	September 23, 2008
Latest Revision	September 23, 2008: 01
Impact	normal
Exploitable	remote

Package	Vulnerable versions	Unaffected versions	Architecture(s)
sys-apps/ed	< 1.0	>= 1.0	All supported architectures

Related bugreports: #236521

Synopsis

A buffer overflow vulnerability in ed may allow for the remote execution of arbitrary code.

2. Impact Information

Background

GNU ed is a basic line editor. red is a restricted version of ed that does not allow shell command execution.

Description

Alfredo Ortega from Core Security Technologies reported a heap-based buffer overflow in the strip_escapes() function when processing overly long filenames.

Impact

A remote attacker could entice a user to process specially crafted commands with ed or red, possibly resulting in the execution of arbitrary code with the privileges of the user running the application.

3. Resolution Information

Workaround

There is no known workaround at this time.

Resolution

All GNU ed users should upgrade to the latest version:

Code Listing 3.1: Resolution

# emerge --sync
# emerge --ask --oneshot --verbose ">=sys-apps/ed-1.0"

4. References

CVE-2008-3916

Page updated September 23, 2008

Summary: This is a Gentoo Linux Security Advisory

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