- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Gentoo Linux Security Advisory GLSA 201009-08 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - http://security.gentoo.org/ - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Severity: High Title: python-updater: Untrusted search path Date: September 21, 2010 Bugs: #288361 ID: 201009-08 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Synopsis ======== An untrusted search path vulnerability in python-updater might result in the execution of arbitrary code. Background ========== python-updater is a script used to remerge python packages when changing Python version. Affected packages ================= ------------------------------------------------------------------- Package / Vulnerable / Unaffected ------------------------------------------------------------------- 1 app-admin/python-updater < 0.7-r1 >= 0.7-r1 Description =========== Robert Buchholz of the Gentoo Security Team reported that python-updater includes the current working directory and subdirectories in the Python module search path (sys.path) before calling "import". Impact ====== A local attacker could entice the root user to run "python-updater" from a directory containing a specially crafted Python module, resulting in the execution of arbitrary code with root privileges. Workaround ========== Do not run "python-updater" from untrusted working directories. Resolution ========== All python-updater users should upgrade to the latest version: # emerge --sync # emerge --ask --oneshot --verbose ">=app-admin/python-updater-0.7-r1" Availability ============ This GLSA and any updates to it are available for viewing at the Gentoo Security Website: http://security.gentoo.org/glsa/glsa-201009-08.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 https://bugs.gentoo.org. License ======= Copyright 2010 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/2.5