HTMLDOC: User-assisted execution of arbitrary code — GLSA 200909-12

Multiple insecure calls to the sscanf() function in HTMLDOC might result in the execution of arbitrary code.

Affected packages

Background

HTMLDOC is a HTML indexer and HTML to PS and PDF converter.

Description

ANTHRAX666 reported an insecure call to the sscanf() function in the set_page_size() function in htmldoc/util.cxx. Nico Golde of the Debian Security Team found two more insecure calls in the write_type1() function in htmldoc/ps-pdf.cxx and the htmlLoadFontWidths() function in htmldoc/htmllib.cxx.

Impact

A remote attacker could entice a user to process a specially crafted HTML file using htmldoc, possibly resulting in the execution of arbitrary code with the privileges of the user running the application. NOTE: Additional vectors via specially crafted AFM font metric files do not cross trust boundaries, as the files can only be modified by privileged users.

Workaround

There is no known workaround at this time.

Resolution

 # emerge --sync
 # emerge --ask --oneshot --verbose ">=app-text/htmldoc-1.8.27-r1"

References

• CVE-2009-3050

Release date
September 12, 2009

Latest revision
September 12, 2009: 01

Severity
normal

Exploitable
remote

Bugzilla entries

• 278186