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Gentoo Linux Security Advisory                           GLSA 200410-10
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                                            http://security.gentoo.org/
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  Severity: Low
     Title: gettext: Insecure temporary file handling
      Date: October 10, 2004
      Bugs: #66355
        ID: 200410-10

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Synopsis
========

The gettext utility is vulnerable to symlink attacks, potentially
allowing a local user to overwrite or change permissions on arbitrary
files with the rights of the user running gettext, which could be the
root user.

Background
==========

gettext is a set of utilities for the GNU Translation Project which
provides a set of tools and documentation to help produce multi-lingual
messages in programs.

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

    -------------------------------------------------------------------
     Package            /   Vulnerable   /                  Unaffected
    -------------------------------------------------------------------
  1  sys-devel/gettext      < 0.12.1-r2                   >= 0.12.1-r2

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

gettext insecurely creates temporary files in world-writeable
directories with predictable names.

Impact
======

A local attacker could create symbolic links in the temporary files
directory, pointing to a valid file somewhere on the filesystem. When
gettext is called, this would result in file access with the rights of
the user running the utility, which could be the root user.

Workaround
==========

There is no known workaround at this time.

Resolution
==========

All gettext users should upgrade to the latest version:

    # emerge sync

    # emerge -pv ">=sys-devel/gettext-0.12.1-r2"
    # emerge ">=sys-devel/gettext-0.12.1.-r2"

References
==========

  [ 1 ] BugTraq Advisory
        http://www.securityfocus.com/advisories/7263

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

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

  http://security.gentoo.org/glsa/glsa-200410-10.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/1.0