X.Org X server: Composite local privilege escalation — GLSA 200710-16

A vulnerability has been discovered in the Composite extension of the X.Org X server, allowing for a local privilege escalation.

Affected packages

Background

The X Window System is a graphical windowing system based on a client/server model.

Description

Aaron Plattner discovered a buffer overflow in the compNewPixmap() function when copying data from a large pixel depth pixmap into a smaller pixel depth pixmap.

Impact

A local attacker could execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the user running the X server, typically root.

Workaround

Disable the Composite extension by setting ' Option "Composite" "disable" ' in the Extensions section of xorg.conf.

Note: This could affect the functionality of some applications.

Resolution

 # emerge --sync
 # emerge --ask --oneshot --verbose ">=x11-base/xorg-server-1.3.0.0-r1"

References

• CVE-2007-4730

Release date
October 14, 2007

Latest revision
October 14, 2007: 01

Severity
high

Exploitable
local

Bugzilla entries

• 191964