CVE-2023-52076 in atril
Summary
by MITRE • 01/25/2024
Atril Document Viewer is the default document reader of the MATE desktop environment for Linux. A path traversal and arbitrary file write vulnerability exists in versions of Atril prior to 1.26.2. This vulnerability is capable of writing arbitrary files anywhere on the filesystem to which the user opening a crafted document has access. The only limitation is that this vulnerability cannot be exploited to overwrite existing files, but that doesn't stop an attacker from achieving Remote Command Execution on the target system. Version 1.26.2 of Atril contains a patch for this vulnerability.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/20/2025
The atril document viewer represents a critical security vulnerability within the MATE desktop environment ecosystem, specifically targeting versions prior to 1.26.2. This vulnerability manifests as a path traversal flaw combined with arbitrary file write capabilities that fundamentally undermines the security model of the application. The flaw exists in how the document viewer processes crafted documents, allowing malicious actors to manipulate file paths and execute file write operations across the filesystem. The vulnerability's impact extends beyond simple file manipulation as it enables attackers to achieve remote command execution on compromised systems, making it particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where MATE desktop is deployed.
Technical exploitation of this vulnerability leverages path traversal mechanisms that permit attackers to navigate beyond the intended document processing boundaries. The flaw allows for arbitrary file creation anywhere within the filesystem where the user account running atril has write permissions, though it specifically prevents overwriting existing files. This design limitation actually increases the exploit's potential impact as attackers can create new files with malicious content rather than simply modifying existing system files. The vulnerability operates at the file system level, bypassing normal access controls and application sandboxing mechanisms that would typically protect system integrity. According to CWE classification, this represents a variant of CWE-22 Path Traversal and CWE-73 Arbitrary Write, both of which are categorized as high-risk vulnerabilities in software security assessments.
The operational impact of CVE-2023-52076 extends far beyond the immediate document viewer application, as it provides attackers with a foothold for broader system compromise. When combined with other exploitation techniques, this vulnerability can enable privilege escalation, persistent access, and data exfiltration capabilities. The fact that this vulnerability affects the default document reader in MATE desktop environments means that widespread exploitation is possible across organizations that have not yet updated their systems. Attackers can craft malicious documents that, when opened by unsuspecting users, trigger the vulnerability and establish backdoors or execute payload delivery mechanisms. The vulnerability's exploitation does not require special privileges beyond normal user access, making it particularly dangerous in multi-user environments where standard users might have access to sensitive system resources.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability focus primarily on immediate system updates to version 1.26.2 or later, which contains the necessary patches to address the path traversal and file write flaws. System administrators should conduct comprehensive vulnerability assessments to identify all instances of affected atril versions across their network infrastructure. Additional protective measures include implementing strict file access controls, monitoring for unauthorized file creation in system directories, and deploying application whitelisting solutions to prevent execution of malicious documents. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under T1059 Command and Scripting Interpreter and T1566 Phishing, as attackers typically exploit user trust to deliver malicious documents that trigger the vulnerability. Organizations should also consider network segmentation and intrusion detection systems to monitor for suspicious file system activity that might indicate exploitation attempts. Regular security awareness training for end users remains critical as social engineering remains the primary delivery mechanism for such file-based attacks.