[ GLSA 200501-02 ] a2ps: Insecure temporary files handling

[Thierry Carrez <koon () gentoo org>]

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Gentoo Linux Security Advisory                           GLSA 200501-02
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                                            http://security.gentoo.org/
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  Severity: Normal
     Title: a2ps: Insecure temporary files handling
      Date: January 04, 2005
      Bugs: #75784
        ID: 200501-02

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Synopsis
========

The fixps and psmandup scripts in the a2ps package are vulnerable to
symlink attacks, potentially allowing a local user to overwrite
arbitrary files.

Background
==========

a2ps is an Any to Postscript filter that can convert to Postscript from
many filetypes. fixps is a script that fixes errors in Postscript
files. psmandup produces a Postscript file for printing in manual
duplex mode.

Affected packages
=================

    -------------------------------------------------------------------
     Package        /  Vulnerable  /                        Unaffected
    -------------------------------------------------------------------
  1  app-text/a2ps     < 4.13c-r2                          >= 4.13c-r2

Description
===========

Javier Fernandez-Sanguino Pena discovered that the a2ps package
contains two scripts that create insecure temporary files (fixps and
psmandup).

Impact
======

A local attacker could create symbolic links in the temporary files
directory, pointing to a valid file somewhere on the filesystem. When
fixps or psmandup is executed, this would result in the file being
overwritten with the rights of the user running the utility.

Workaround
==========

There is no known workaround at this time.

Resolution
==========

All a2ps users should upgrade to the latest version:

    # emerge --sync
    # emerge --ask --oneshot --verbose ">=app-text/a2ps-4.13c-r2"

References
==========

  [ 1 ] Secunia SA13641
        http://secunia.com/advisories/13641/
  [ 2 ] CAN-2004-1170
        http://cve.mitre.org/cgi-bin/cvename.cgi?name=CAN-2004-1170

Availability
============

This GLSA and any updates to it are available for viewing at
the Gentoo Security Website:

  http://security.gentoo.org/glsa/glsa-200501-02.xml

Concerns?
=========

Security is a primary focus of Gentoo Linux and ensuring the
confidentiality and security of our users machines is of utmost
importance to us. Any security concerns should be addressed to
security () gentoo org or alternatively, you may file a bug at
http://bugs.gentoo.org.

License
=======

Copyright 2004 Gentoo Foundation, Inc; referenced text
belongs to its owner(s).

The contents of this document are licensed under the
Creative Commons - Attribution / Share Alike license.

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0

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