[ GLSA 200411-33 ] TWiki: Arbitrary command execution

[GLSA]

Gentoo Linux Security Advisory

Title: TWiki: Arbitrary command execution (GLSA 200411-33)
Severity: high
Exploitable: remote
Date: November 24, 2004
Updated: September 08, 2006
Bug(s): #71035
ID: 200411-33

Synopsis


A bug in the TWiki search function allows an attacker to execute arbitrary
commands with the permissions of the user running TWiki.


Background


TWiki is a Web-based groupware tool based around the concept of wiki
pages that can be edited by anybody with a Web browser.


Affected Packages

Package: www-apps/twiki
Vulnerable: < 20040902
Unaffected: >= 20040902
Unaffected: < 20000000
Architectures: All supported architectures


Description


The TWiki search function, which uses a shell command executed via the
Perl backtick operator, does not properly escape shell metacharacters
in the user-provided search string.


Impact


An attacker can insert malicious commands into a search request,
allowing the execution of arbitrary commands with the privileges of the
user running TWiki (usually the Web server user).


Workaround


There is no known workaround at this time.


Resolution


All TWiki users should upgrade to the latest version: