SEC Consult Vulnerability Lab Security Advisory < 20141218-1 >
=======================================================================
              title: OS Command Execution
            product: GParted - Gnome Partition Editor
 vulnerable version: <=0.14.1
      fixed version: >=0.15.0,
                     <=0.14.1 with fix for CVE-2014-7208 applied
         CVE number: CVE-2014-7208
             impact: medium
           homepage: http://gparted.org/
              found: 2014-07
                 by: W. Ettlinger
                     SEC Consult Vulnerability Lab
                     https://www.sec-consult.com
=======================================================================

Vendor description:
-------------------
"GParted is a free partition editor for graphically managing your disk
partitions.

With GParted you can resize, copy, and move partitions without data
loss, enabling you to:
* Grow or shrink your C: drive
* Create space for new operating systems
* Attempt data rescue from lost partitions"

URL: http://gparted.org/index.php


Vulnerability overview/description:
-----------------------------------
Gparted <=0.14.1 does not properly sanitize strings before passing
them as parameters to an OS command. Those commands are executed
using root privileges.

Parameters that are being used for OS commands in Gparted are normally
determined by the user (e.g. disk labels, mount points).  However, under
certain circumstances, an attacker can use an external storage device to
inject command parameters. These circumstances are met if for example an
automounter uses a filesystem label as part of the mount path.

Please note that GParted versions before 0.15 are still being used
in distributions. E.g Debian Wheezy is vulnerable to this issue before
applying the patches.


Proof of concept:
-----------------
The following command creates a malicious filesystem.

# mkfs.ext2 -L "\`reboot\`" /dev/sdXX

When this filesystem is mounted by an automounter to a mountpoint
containing the filesystem label and the user tries to unmount this filesystem
using GParted, the system reboots.

Vulnerable / tested versions:
-----------------------------
Gparted versions <=0.14.1 were found to be vulnerable.


Vendor contact timeline:
------------------------
2014-10-29: Contacting maintainer (Curtis Gedak) through
            gedakc AT users DOT sf DOT net
2014-10-29: Initial response from maintainer offering encryption
2014-10-30: Sending encrypted advisory
2014-10-30: Maintainer confirms the behaviour, will be investigated
            further
2014-11-04: Maintainer sends initial patches
2014-11-05: Giving a few notes on the patches
2014-11-05: Maintainer clarifies a few concerns with the patches;
            Forwards patches to Mike Fleetwood for review
2014-11-08: Review shows that the patches cause functional
            problems; proposes further procedure
2014-11-08: Maintainer proposes a different patching approach
2014-11-08: Reviewer shows concerns with this approach, opens
            a security bug (1171909) with Fedora (in accordance with
            their Security Tracking Bugs procedure);
            Red Hat creates tracking bug 1172549
2014-11-15: New patches for several versions
2014-11-23: Maintainer sends vulnerability information to Debian
2014-11-29: Debian Security Team responds, asks for embargo date and
            CVE number
2014-11-30: Release date set to 2014-12-18
2014-12-11: Mailing list linux-distros AT vs DOT openwall DOT org informed
2014-12-11: Writing that embargo may be lifted, SEC Consult will release
            advisory on 2014-12-18
2014-12-18: Coordinated release of security advisory


Solution:
---------
Update GParted to version >= 0.15.0 or apply security patches for
CVE-2014-7208.


Advisory URL:
-------------
https://www.sec-consult.com/en/Vulnerability-Lab/Advisories.htm


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EOF W. Ettlinger / @2014