[ GLSA 200809-12 ] Newsbeuter: User-assisted execution of arbitrary code

[Pierre-Yves Rofes <py () gentoo org>]

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Gentoo Linux Security Advisory                           GLSA 200809-12
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                                             http://security.gentoo.org/
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   Severity: Normal
      Title: Newsbeuter: User-assisted execution of arbitrary code
       Date: September 22, 2008
       Bugs: #236506
         ID: 200809-12

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Synopsis
========

Insufficient input validation in newsbeuter may allow remote attackers
to execute arbitrary shell commands.

Background
==========

Newsbeuter is a RSS/Atom feed reader for the text console.

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

     -------------------------------------------------------------------
      Package              /  Vulnerable  /                  Unaffected
     -------------------------------------------------------------------
   1  net-news/newsbeuter        < 1.2                           >= 1.2

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

J.H.M. Dassen reported that the open-in-browser command does not
properly escape shell metacharacters in the URL before passing it to
system().

Impact
======

A remote attacker could entice a user to open a feed with specially
crafted URLs, possibly resulting in the remote execution of arbitrary
shell commands with the privileges of the user running the application.

Workaround
==========

There is no known workaround at this time.

Resolution
==========

All Newsbeuter users should upgrade to the latest version:

     # emerge --sync
     # emerge --ask --oneshot --verbose ">=net-news/newsbeuter-1.2"

References
==========

   [ 1 ] CVE-2008-3907
         http://cve.mitre.org/cgi-bin/cvename.cgi?name=CVE-2008-3907

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

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

   http://security.gentoo.org/glsa/glsa-200809-12.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 2008 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

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