CVE-2017-1000083 in Evince
Summary
by MITRE
backend/comics/comics-document.c (aka the comic book backend) in GNOME Evince before 3.24.1 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary commands via a .cbt file that is a TAR archive containing a filename beginning with a "--" command-line option substring, as demonstrated by a --checkpoint-action=exec=bash at the beginning of the filename.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/01/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-1000083 represents a critical command injection flaw within the GNOME Evince document viewer application. This issue specifically affects the comic book backend component responsible for handling .cbt files, which are TAR archives containing comic book documents. The vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and sanitization when processing these archive files, creating a pathway for remote attackers to execute arbitrary code on affected systems. The flaw manifests when a maliciously crafted .cbt file contains a filename beginning with the "--" command-line option prefix, which is commonly used to denote command-line arguments in Unix-like systems.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability leverages the tar command's handling of filenames that begin with "--" characters. When GNOME Evince processes such a file, the backend component passes the filename directly to the tar command without proper sanitization, allowing attackers to inject malicious command-line options. The demonstration case shows how a filename starting with "--checkpoint-action=exec=bash" can be used to execute arbitrary shell commands, effectively granting remote code execution capabilities. This type of vulnerability falls under CWE-78, which specifically addresses improper neutralization of special elements used in OS commands, and represents a classic command injection vulnerability that has been prevalent in numerous security advisories.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple remote code execution, as it affects a widely deployed desktop application across multiple Linux distributions and desktop environments. GNOME Evince serves as a default document viewer in many enterprise and consumer environments, making this vulnerability particularly dangerous as it can be exploited through various attack vectors including email attachments, web downloads, or malicious file sharing platforms. The remote nature of the attack means that users need only open a maliciously crafted .cbt file to be compromised, without requiring any additional user interaction or privilege escalation. This vulnerability directly aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.001 for executing malicious commands and T1203 for exploitation for arbitrary code execution.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability primarily focus on updating to GNOME Evince version 3.24.1 or later, where the issue has been resolved through proper input validation and sanitization of filename processing. Organizations should implement immediate patch management procedures to ensure all affected systems are updated, particularly in enterprise environments where desktop applications are centrally managed. Additional defensive measures include implementing file type restrictions for document viewers, deploying sandboxing mechanisms for document processing, and configuring network-based security controls to block potentially malicious archive files. The vulnerability highlights the importance of proper input validation in applications that interact with system commands and demonstrates the critical need for security testing of file processing components. Security professionals should also consider implementing monitoring solutions to detect suspicious command execution patterns and establish incident response procedures for handling potential exploitation attempts.