[ GLSA 200410-18 ] Ghostscript: Insecure temporary file use in multiple scripts

[GLSA]

Gentoo Linux Security Advisory

Title: Ghostscript: Insecure temporary file use in multiple scripts (GLSA 200410-18)
Severity: normal
Exploitable: local
Date: October 20, 2004
Updated: December 30, 2007
Bug(s): #66357
ID: 200410-18

Synopsis

Multiple scripts in the Ghostscript package are vulnerable to symlink attacks, potentially allowing a local user to overwrite arbitrary files with the rights of the user running the script.

Background

Ghostscript is a software package providing an interpreter for the PostScript language and the PDF file format. It also provides output drivers for various file formats and printers.

Affected Packages

Package: app-text/ghostscript-esp
Vulnerable: < 7.07.1-r7
Unaffected: >= 7.07.1-r7
Unaffected: >= 7.05.6-r2 < 7.05.7
Architectures: All supported architectures


Description

The pj-gs.sh, ps2epsi, pv.sh and sysvlp.sh scripts create 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 an affected script is called, this would result in the file to be overwritten with the rights of the user running the script, which could be the root user.

Workaround

There is no known workaround at this time.

Resolution

Ghostscript users on all architectures except PPC should upgrade to the latest version: