TeX Live up to 20170524 URL mtxrun.lua BROWSER injection

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability was found in TeX Live up to 20170524 and classified as critical. This vulnerability affects unknown code of the file texmf-dist/scripts/context/stubs/mswin/mtxrun.lua of the component URL Handler. Executing a manipulation of the argument BROWSER as part of Environment Variable can lead to injection. The identification of this vulnerability is CVE-2017-17513. The attack may be launched remotely. There is no exploit available.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability classified as critical was found in TeX Live up to 20170524. This vulnerability affects an unknown code of the file texmf-dist/scripts/context/stubs/mswin/mtxrun.lua of the component URL Handler. The manipulation of the argument BROWSER as part of a Environment Variable leads to a injection vulnerability. The CWE definition for the vulnerability is CWE-74. The product constructs all or part of a command, data structure, or record using externally-influenced input from an upstream component, but it does not neutralize or incorrectly neutralizes special elements that could modify how it is parsed or interpreted when it is sent to a downstream component. As an impact it is known to affect confidentiality, integrity, and availability. CVE summarizes:

TeX Live through 20170524 does not validate strings before launching the program specified by the BROWSER environment variable, which might allow remote attackers to conduct argument-injection attacks via a crafted URL, related to texmf-dist/scripts/context/stubs/mswin/mtxrun.lua and texmf-dist/tex/luatex/lualibs/lualibs-os.lua.

The bug was discovered 12/11/2017. The weakness was shared 12/14/2017 (Website). The advisory is available at security-tracker.debian.org. This vulnerability was named CVE-2017-17513 since 12/11/2017. The attack can be initiated remotely. No form of authentication is required for a successful exploitation. Successful exploitation requires user interaction by the victim. Technical details are known, but there is no available exploit. This vulnerability is assigned to T1055 by the MITRE ATT&CK project.

The vulnerability was handled as a non-public zero-day exploit for at least 3 days. During that time the estimated underground price was around $0-$5k.

There is no information about possible countermeasures known. It may be suggested to replace the affected object with an alternative product.

If you want to get best quality of vulnerability data, you may have to visit VulDB.

Productinfo

Name

• TeX Live

Version

• 20170524

CPE 2.3info

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• 🔍

CPE 2.2info

• 🔍
• 🔍

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If you want to get best quality of vulnerability data, you may have to visit VulDB.

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