Gentoo alert 201009-08 (python-updater)

From:
    	     
 
Stefan Behte <craig@gentoo.org> 
To:
    	     
 
gentoo-announce@gentoo.org, bugtraq@securityfocus.com, 
 full-disclosure@lists.grok.org.uk, security-alerts@linuxsecurity.com 
Subject:
    	     
 
[gentoo-announce] [ GLSA 201009-08 ] python-updater: Untrusted search path 
Date:
    	     
 
Tue, 21 Sep 2010 23:42:58 +0200
Message-ID:
    	     
 
<4C9926E2.3000302@gentoo.org>
Archive-link:
    	     
 
Article, Thread
              
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Gentoo Linux Security Advisory                           GLSA 201009-08
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                                            http://security.gentoo.org/
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  Severity: High
     Title: python-updater: Untrusted search path
      Date: September 21, 2010
      Bugs: #288361
        ID: 201009-08

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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