[ GLSA 200809-01 ] yelp: User-assisted execution of arbitrary code

[GLSA]

Gentoo Linux Security Advisory

Title: yelp: User-assisted execution of arbitrary code (GLSA 200809-01)
Severity: normal
Exploitable: remote
Date: September 04, 2008
Bug(s): #234079
ID: 200809-01

Synopsis

A vulnerability in yelp can lead to the execution of arbitrary code when opening a URI, for example through Firefox.

Background

yelp is the default help browser for GNOME.

Affected Packages

Package: gnome-extra/yelp
Vulnerable: < 2.22.1-r2
Unaffected: >= 2.22.1-r2
Unaffected: >= 2.20.0-r1 < 2.20.1
Architectures: All supported architectures


Description

Aaron Grattafiori reported a format string vulnerability in the window_error() function in yelp-window.c.

Impact

A remote attacker can entice a user to open specially crafted "man:" or "ghelp:" URIs in yelp, or an application using yelp such as Firefox or Evolution, and execute arbitrary code with the privileges of that user.

Workaround

There is no known workaround at this time.

Resolution

All yelp users running GNOME 2.22 should upgrade to the latest version: