socat: Arbitrary code execution

1. Gentoo Linux Security Advisory

Package	Vulnerable versions	Unaffected versions	Architecture(s)
net-misc/socat	< 1.7.2.1	>= 1.7.2.1	All supported architectures

Related bugreports: #415977

A buffer overflow in socat might allow remote attackers to execute arbitrary code.

2. Impact Information

socat is a multipurpose bidirectional relay, similar to netcat.

A vulnerability in the "xioscan_readline()" function in xio-readline.c could cause a heap-based buffer overflow.

A remote attacker could possibly execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the socat process.

3. Resolution Information

There is no known workaround at this time.

All socat users should upgrade to the latest version:

Code Listing 3.1: Resolution

  # emerge --sync
  # emerge --ask --oneshot --verbose ">=net-misc/socat-1.7.2.1"

4. References

Page updated August 14, 2012

Summary: This is a Gentoo Linux Security Advisory

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