Untrusted search path vulnerability in libbrlttybba.so in brltty 3.7.2 allows local users to gain privileges via a crafted library, related to an incorrect RPATH setting.

The remote Oracle Linux 5 host has packages installed that are affected by a vulnerability as referenced in the ELSA-2010-0181 advisory.

    - remove bogus rpath from libbrlttybba.so (CVE-2008-3279, #457942)

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

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

It was discovered that a brltty library had an insecure relative RPATH (runtime library search path) set in the ELF (Executable and Linking Format) header. A local user able to convince another user to run an application using brltty in an attacker-controlled directory, could run arbitrary code with the privileges of the victim. (CVE-2008-3279)

These updated packages also provide fixes for the following bugs :

  - the brltty configuration file is documented in the     brltty manual page, but there is no separate manual page     for the /etc/brltty.conf configuration file: running     'man brltty.conf' returned 'No manual entry for     brltty.conf' rather than opening the brltty manual     entry. This update adds brltty.conf.5 as an alias to the     brltty manual page. Consequently, running 'man     brltty.conf' now opens the manual entry documenting the     brltty.conf specification. (BZ#530554)

  - previously, the brltty-pm.conf configuration file was     installed in the /etc/brltty/ directory. This file,     which configures Papenmeier Braille Terminals for use     with Scientific Linux, is optional. As well, it did not     come with a corresponding manual page. With this update,     the file has been moved to     /usr/share/doc/brltty-3.7.2/BrailleDrivers/Papenmeier/.
    This directory also includes a README document that     explains the file's purpose and format. (BZ#530554)

  - during the brltty packages installation, the message

    Creating screen inspection device /dev/vcsa...done.

was presented at the console. This was inadequate, especially during the initial install of the system. These updated packages do not send any message to the console during installation. (BZ#529163)

  - although brltty contains ELF objects, the     brltty-debuginfo package was empty. With this update,     the -debuginfo package contains valid debugging     information as expected. (BZ#500545)

  - the MAX_NR_CONSOLES definition was acquired by brltty by     #including linux/tty.h in Programs/api_client.c.
    MAX_NR_CONSOLES has since moved to linux/vt.h but the     #include in api_client.c was not updated. Consequently,     brltty could not be built from the source RPM against     the Scientific Linux 5 kernel. This update corrects the     #include in api_client.c to linux/vt.h and brltty now     builds from source as expected. (BZ#456247)

Updated brltty packages that fix one security issue and several bugs are now available for Red Hat Enterprise Linux 5.

The Red Hat Security Response Team has rated this update as having low security impact. A Common Vulnerability Scoring System (CVSS) base score, which gives a detailed severity rating, is available from the CVE link in the References section.

brltty (Braille TTY) is a background process (daemon) which provides access to the Linux console (when in text mode) for a blind person using a refreshable braille display. It drives the braille display, and provides complete screen review functionality.

It was discovered that a brltty library had an insecure relative RPATH (runtime library search path) set in the ELF (Executable and Linking Format) header. A local user able to convince another user to run an application using brltty in an attacker-controlled directory, could run arbitrary code with the privileges of the victim. (CVE-2008-3279)

These updated packages also provide fixes for the following bugs :

* the brltty configuration file is documented in the brltty manual page, but there is no separate manual page for the /etc/brltty.conf configuration file: running 'man brltty.conf' returned 'No manual entry for brltty.conf' rather than opening the brltty manual entry.
This update adds brltty.conf.5 as an alias to the brltty manual page.
Consequently, running 'man brltty.conf' now opens the manual entry documenting the brltty.conf specification. (BZ#530554)

* previously, the brltty-pm.conf configuration file was installed in the /etc/brltty/ directory. This file, which configures Papenmeier Braille Terminals for use with Red Hat Enterprise Linux, is optional.
As well, it did not come with a corresponding manual page. With this update, the file has been moved to /usr/share/doc/brltty-3.7.2/BrailleDrivers/Papenmeier/. This directory also includes a README document that explains the file's purpose and format. (BZ#530554)

* during the brltty packages installation, the message

Creating screen inspection device /dev/vcsa...done.

was presented at the console. This was inadequate, especially during the initial install of the system. These updated packages do not send any message to the console during installation. (BZ#529163)

* although brltty contains ELF objects, the brltty-debuginfo package was empty. With this update, the -debuginfo package contains valid debugging information as expected. (BZ#500545)

* the MAX_NR_CONSOLES definition was acquired by brltty by #including linux/tty.h in Programs/api_client.c. MAX_NR_CONSOLES has since moved to linux/vt.h but the #include in api_client.c was not updated.
Consequently, brltty could not be built from the source RPM against the Red Hat Enterprise Linux 5 kernel. This update corrects the #include in api_client.c to linux/vt.h and brltty now builds from source as expected. (BZ#456247)

All brltty users are advised to upgrade to these updated packages, which resolve these issues.

A vulnerability has been found and corrected in brltty :

Untrusted search path vulnerability in libbrlttybba.so in brltty 3.7.2 allows local users to gain privileges via a crafted library, related to an incorrect RPATH setting (CVE-2008-3279).

Packages for 2008.0 are provided for Corporate Desktop 2008.0 customers.

The updated packages have been patched to correct this issue.

ID	Name	Product	Family	Severity
181079	Oracle Linux 5 : brltty (ELSA-2010-0181)	Nessus	Oracle Linux Local Security Checks	high
60762	Scientific Linux Security Update : brltty on SL5.x i386/x86_64	Nessus	Scientific Linux Local Security Checks	medium
46283	RHEL 5 : brltty (RHSA-2010:0181)	Nessus	Red Hat Local Security Checks	medium
45565	Mandriva Linux Security Advisory : brltty (MDVSA-2010:080)	Nessus	Mandriva Local Security Checks	medium

Detections

Analytics

CVE-2008-3279

high

Tenable Plugins

high

medium

medium

medium