[ GLSA 200611-03 ] NVIDIA binary graphics driver: Privilege escalation vulnerability

[GLSA]

Gentoo Linux Security Advisory

Title: NVIDIA binary graphics driver: Privilege escalation vulnerability (GLSA 200611-03)
Severity: high
Exploitable: remote, local
Date: November 07, 2006
Updated: November 10, 2006
Bug(s): #151635
ID: 200611-03

Synopsis

The NVIDIA binary graphics driver is vulnerable to a local privilege escalation through an X session.

Background

The NVIDIA binary graphics driver from NVIDIA Corporation provides the kernel module and the GL modules for graphic acceleration on the NVIDIA based graphic cards.

Affected Packages

Package: x11-drivers/nvidia-drivers
Vulnerable: < 1.0.8776
Unaffected: >= 1.0.8776
Unaffected: < 1.0.8762
Architectures: All supported architectures


Description

Rapid7 reported a boundary error in the NVIDIA binary graphics driver that leads to a buffer overflow in the accelerated rendering functionality.

Impact

An X client could trigger the buffer overflow with a maliciously crafted series of glyphs. A remote attacker could also entice a user to open a specially crafted web page, document or X client that will trigger the buffer overflow. This could result in the execution of arbitrary code with root privileges or at least in the crash of the X server.

Workaround

Disable the accelerated rendering functionality in the Device section of xorg.conf :