Untrusted search path vulnerability in Lynx before 2.8.6rel.4 allows local users to execute arbitrary code via malicious (1) .mailcap and (2) mime.types files in the current working directory.

The remote Oracle Linux 5 host has a package installed that is affected by multiple vulnerabilities as referenced in the ELSA-2008-0965 advisory.

    - add patch for CVE-2008-4690 (rhbz#468184)
      - prompt user before executing commands from the lynxcgi: handler,         even in the advanced user mode
      - mark all lynxcgi: URIs as untrusted in the default lynx.cfg

Tenable has extracted the preceding description block directly from the Oracle Linux security advisory.

Note that Nessus has not tested for these issues but has instead relied only on the application's self-reported version number.

An arbitrary command execution flaw was found in the Lynx 'lynxcgi:' URI handler. An attacker could create a web page redirecting to a malicious URL that could execute arbitrary code as the user running Lynx in the non-default 'Advanced' user mode. (CVE-2008-4690)

Note: In these updated lynx packages, Lynx will always prompt users before loading a 'lynxcgi:' URI. Additionally, the default lynx.cfg configuration file now marks all 'lynxcgi:' URIs as untrusted by default.

A flaw was found in a way Lynx handled '.mailcap' and '.mime.types' configuration files. Files in the browser's current working directory were opened before those in the user's home directory. A local attacker, able to convince a user to run Lynx in a directory under their control, could possibly execute arbitrary commands as the user running Lynx. (CVE-2006-7234)

An updated lynx package that corrects two security issues is now available for Red Hat Enterprise Linux 2.1, 3, 4, and 5.

This update has been rated as having important security impact by the Red Hat Security Response Team.

Lynx is a text-based Web browser.

An arbitrary command execution flaw was found in the Lynx 'lynxcgi:' URI handler. An attacker could create a web page redirecting to a malicious URL that could execute arbitrary code as the user running Lynx in the non-default 'Advanced' user mode. (CVE-2008-4690)

Note: In these updated lynx packages, Lynx will always prompt users before loading a 'lynxcgi:' URI. Additionally, the default lynx.cfg configuration file now marks all 'lynxcgi:' URIs as untrusted by default.

A flaw was found in a way Lynx handled '.mailcap' and '.mime.types' configuration files. Files in the browser's current working directory were opened before those in the user's home directory. A local attacker, able to convince a user to run Lynx in a directory under their control, could possibly execute arbitrary commands as the user running Lynx. (CVE-2006-7234)

All users of Lynx are advised to upgrade to this updated package, which contains backported patches correcting these issues.

ID	Name	Product	Family	Severity
67759	Oracle Linux 5 : lynx (ELSA-2008-0965)	Nessus	Oracle Linux Local Security Checks	critical
60486	Scientific Linux Security Update : lynx on SL3.x, SL4.x, SL5.x i386/x86_64	Nessus	Scientific Linux Local Security Checks	critical
34505	RHEL 2.1 / 3 / 4 / 5 : lynx (RHSA-2008:0965)	Nessus	Red Hat Local Security Checks	critical
34503	CentOS 3 / 4 / 5 : lynx (CESA-2008:0965)	Nessus	CentOS Local Security Checks	critical

Detections

Analytics

CVE-2006-7234

critical

Tenable Plugins

critical

critical

critical

critical