Syntastic up to 3.9.0 Configuration File Search data processing

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability was found in Syntastic up to 3.9.0. It has been classified as critical. This impacts an unknown function of the component Configuration File Search Handler. This manipulation causes data processing. The identification of this vulnerability is CVE-2018-11319. It is possible to initiate the attack remotely. There is no exploit available. Upgrading the affected component is recommended.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability has been found in Syntastic up to 3.9.0 and classified as critical. Affected by this vulnerability is an unknown code block of the component Configuration File Search Handler. The manipulation with an unknown input leads to a data processing vulnerability. The CWE definition for the vulnerability is CWE-19. As an impact it is known to affect confidentiality, integrity, and availability. The summary by CVE is:

Syntastic (aka vim-syntastic) through 3.9.0 does not properly handle searches for configuration files (it searches the current directory up to potentially the root). This improper handling might be exploited for arbitrary code execution via a malicious gcc plugin, if an attacker has write access to a directory that is a parent of the base directory of the project being checked. NOTE: exploitation is more difficult after 3.8.0 because filename prediction may be needed.

The bug was discovered 04/17/2018. The weakness was shared 05/20/2018 (Website). It is possible to read the advisory at bugs.debian.org. This vulnerability is known as CVE-2018-11319 since 05/20/2018. The attack can be launched remotely. The requirement for exploitation is a single authentication. The technical details are unknown and an exploit is not publicly available.

The vulnerability was handled as a non-public zero-day exploit for at least 33 days. During that time the estimated underground price was around $0-$5k. The vulnerability scanner Nessus provides a plugin with the ID 111357 (Debian DLA-1444-1 : vim-syntastic security update), which helps to determine the existence of the flaw in a target environment. It is assigned to the family Debian Local Security Checks and running in the context l. The commercial vulnerability scanner Qualys is able to test this issue with plugin 176445 (Debian Security Update for vim-syntastic (DSA 4261-1)).

Upgrading eliminates this vulnerability. A possible mitigation has been published 3 months after the disclosure of the vulnerability.

The vulnerability is also documented in the vulnerability database at Tenable (111357). Be aware that VulDB is the high quality source for vulnerability data.

Productinfo

Name

• Syntastic

Version

• 3.0
• 3.1
• 3.2
• 3.3
• 3.4
• 3.5
• 3.6
• 3.7
• 3.8
• 3.9.0

License

• open-source

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CPE 2.2info

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Be aware that VulDB is the high quality source for vulnerability data.

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