CVE Vulnerabilities

CVE-2012-0809

Use of Externally-Controlled Format String

Published: Feb 01, 2012 | Modified: Jan 05, 2018
CVSS 3.x
N/A
Source:
NVD
CVSS 2.x
7.2 HIGH
AV:L/AC:L/Au:N/C:C/I:C/A:C
RedHat/V2
7.2 LOW
AV:L/AC:L/Au:N/C:C/I:C/A:C
RedHat/V3
Ubuntu
LOW

Format string vulnerability in the sudo_debug function in Sudo 1.8.0 through 1.8.3p1 allows local users to execute arbitrary code via format string sequences in the program name for sudo.

Weakness

The product uses a function that accepts a format string as an argument, but the format string originates from an external source.

Affected Software

Name Vendor Start Version End Version
Sudo Todd_miller 1.8.0 (including) 1.8.0 (including)
Sudo Todd_miller 1.8.1 (including) 1.8.1 (including)
Sudo Todd_miller 1.8.1p1 (including) 1.8.1p1 (including)
Sudo Todd_miller 1.8.1p2 (including) 1.8.1p2 (including)
Sudo Todd_miller 1.8.2 (including) 1.8.2 (including)
Sudo Todd_miller 1.8.3 (including) 1.8.3 (including)
Sudo Todd_miller 1.8.3p1 (including) 1.8.3p1 (including)
Sudo Ubuntu devel *
Sudo Ubuntu precise *
Sudo Ubuntu upstream *

Extended Description

When an attacker can modify an externally-controlled format string, this can lead to buffer overflows, denial of service, or data representation problems. It should be noted that in some circumstances, such as internationalization, the set of format strings is externally controlled by design. If the source of these format strings is trusted (e.g. only contained in library files that are only modifiable by the system administrator), then the external control might not itself pose a vulnerability.

Potential Mitigations

References