Gentoo Linux Security Advisory                           GLSA 200405-11
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                                             http://security.gentoo.org/
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  Severity: Normal
     Title: KDE URI Handler Vulnerabilities
      Date: May 19, 2004
      Bugs: #51276
        ID: 200405-11

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Synopsis
========

Vulnerabilities in KDE URI handlers makes your system vulnerable to
various attacks.

Background
==========

The K Desktop Environment (KDE) is a powerful Free Software graphical
desktop environment. KDE makes use of URI handlers to trigger various
programs when specific URLs are received.

Affected packages
=================

    -------------------------------------------------------------------
     Package           /   Vulnerable   /                   Unaffected
    -------------------------------------------------------------------
  1  kde-base/kdelibs       <= 3.2.2                       >= 3.2.2-r1
                                                            = 3.1.5-r1

Description
===========

The telnet, rlogin, ssh and mailto URI handlers in KDE do not check for
'-' at the beginning of the hostname passed. By crafting a malicious
URI and entice an user to click on it, it is possible to pass an option
to the programs started by the handlers (typically telnet, kmail...).

Impact
======

If the attacker controls the options passed to the URI handling
programs, it becomes possible for example to overwrite arbitrary files
(possibly leading to denial of service), to open kmail on an
attacker-controlled remote display or with an alternate configuration
file (possibly leading to control of the user account).

Workaround
==========

There is no known workaround at this time. All users are advised to
upgrade to a corrected version of kdelibs.

Resolution
==========

Users of KDE 3.1 should upgrade to the corrected version of kdelibs:

    # emerge sync

    # emerge -pv "=kde-base/kdelibs-3.1.5-r1"
    # emerge "=kde-base/kdelibs-3.1.5-r1"

Users of KDE 3.2 should upgrade to the latest available version of
kdelibs:

    # emerge sync

    # emerge -pv ">=kde-base/kdelibs-3.2.2-r1"
    # emerge ">=kde-base/kdelibs-3.2.2-r1"

References
==========

  [ 1 ] CAN-2004-0411
         http://cve.mitre.org/cgi-bin/cvename.cgi?name=CAN-2004-0411

Availability
============

This GLSA and any updates to it are available for viewing at
the Gentoo Security Website:

      http://security.gentoo.org/glsa/glsa-200405-11.xml

Concerns?
=========

Security is a primary focus of Gentoo Linux and ensuring the
confidentiality and security of our users machines is of utmost
importance to us. Any security concerns should be addressed to
security@gentoo.org or alternatively, you may file a bug at 
http://bugs.gentoo.org.

License
=======

Copyright 2004 Gentoo Technologies, Inc; referenced text
belongs to its owner(s).

The contents of this document are licensed under the
Creative Commons - Attribution / Share Alike license.
 
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/1.0