[ GLSA 201803-04 ] Newsbeuter

[GLSA]

Gentoo Linux Security Advisory

Title: Newsbeuter: User-assisted execution of arbitrary code (GLSA 201803-04)
Severity: normal
Exploitable: remote
Date: 2018-03-11
Bug(s): #631150
ID: 201803-04

Synopsis

A vulnerability 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: net-news/newsbeuter
Vulnerable: <= 2.9-r3
Architectures: All supported architectures


Description

Newsbeuter does not properly escape shell meta-characters in an RSS item
with a media enclosure in the podcast playback function of Podbeuter.


Impact

A remote attacker, by enticing a user to open a feed with a specially
crafted media enclosure, could possibly execute arbitrary shell commands
with the privileges of the user running the application.


Workaround

There is no known workaround at this time.

Resolution

Gentoo has discontinued support for Newsbeuter and recommends that users
unmerge the package: