CVE-2014-1838

The (1) extract_keys_from_pdf and (2) fill_pdf functions in pdf_ext.py in logilab-commons before 0.61.0 allows local users to overwrite arbitrary files and possibly have other unspecified impact via a symlink attack on /tmp/toto.fdf.

Weakness

The product attempts to access a file based on the filename, but it does not properly prevent that filename from identifying a link or shortcut that resolves to an unintended resource.

Affected Software

Potential Mitigations

• Follow the principle of least privilege when assigning access rights to entities in a software system.
• Denying access to a file can prevent an attacker from replacing that file with a link to a sensitive file. Ensure good compartmentalization in the system to provide protected areas that can be trusted.

Related Attack Patterns

• https://cwe.mitre.org/data/definitions/132.html
• https://cwe.mitre.org/data/definitions/17.html
• https://cwe.mitre.org/data/definitions/35.html
• https://cwe.mitre.org/data/definitions/76.html

References

• http://comments.gmane.org/gmane.comp.security.oss.general/11986
• http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-updates/2014-02/msg00085.html
• http://secunia.com/advisories/57209
• http://www.logilab.org/ticket/207561
• https://bugs.debian.org/cgi-bin/bugreport.cgi?bug=737051