[ GLSA 201009-08 ] python-updater: Untrusted search path

[GLSA]

Gentoo Linux Security Advisory

Title: python-updater: Untrusted search path (GLSA 201009-08)
Severity: high
Exploitable: local
Date: September 21, 2010
Bug(s): #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: app-admin/python-updater
Vulnerable: < 0.7-r1
Unaffected: >= 0.7-r1
Architectures: All supported architectures


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: