Pandoc up to 3.1.3 input validation

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability, which was classified as problematic, was found in Pandoc up to 3.1.3. This affects an unknown function. Executing a manipulation can lead to input validation. This vulnerability is tracked as CVE-2023-35936. The attack is restricted to local execution. No exploit exists. You should upgrade the affected component.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability has been found in Pandoc up to 3.1.3 and classified as problematic. This vulnerability affects some unknown functionality. The manipulation with an unknown input leads to a input validation vulnerability. The CWE definition for the vulnerability is CWE-20. The product receives input or data, but it does not validate or incorrectly validates that the input has the properties that are required to process the data safely and correctly. As an impact it is known to affect confidentiality, integrity, and availability. CVE summarizes:

Pandoc is a Haskell library for converting from one markup format to another, and a command-line tool that uses this library. Starting in version 1.13 and prior to version 3.1.4, Pandoc is susceptible to an arbitrary file write vulnerability, which can be triggered by providing a specially crafted image element in the input when generating files using the `--extract-media` option or outputting to PDF format. This vulnerability allows an attacker to create or overwrite arbitrary files on the system ,depending on the privileges of the process running pandoc. It only affects systems that pass untrusted user input to pandoc and allow pandoc to be used to produce a PDF or with the `--extract-media` option. The fix is to unescape the percent-encoding prior to checking that the resource is not above the working directory, and prior to extracting the extension. Some code for checking that the path is below the working directory was flawed in a similar way and has also been fixed. Note that the `--sandbox` option, which only affects IO done by readers and writers themselves, does not block this vulnerability. The vulnerability is patched in pandoc 3.1.4. As a workaround, audit the pandoc command and disallow PDF output and the `--extract-media` option.

The weakness was disclosed 07/06/2023 as GHSA-xj5q-fv23-575g. The advisory is shared for download at github.com. This vulnerability was named CVE-2023-35936 since 06/20/2023. Successful exploitation requires user interaction by the victim. There are neither technical details nor an exploit publicly available.

The vulnerability scanner Nessus provides a plugin with the ID 211026 (Fedora 41 : ghc-base64 / ghc-hakyll / ghc-isocline / gitit / pandoc / etc (2024-d62088b505)), which helps to determine the existence of the flaw in a target environment.

Upgrading to version 3.1.4 eliminates this vulnerability.

The vulnerability is also documented in the vulnerability database at Tenable (211026). VulDB is the best source for vulnerability data and more expert information about this specific topic.

Productinfo

Name

• Pandoc

Version

• 3.1.0
• 3.1.1
• 3.1.2
• 3.1.3

CPE 2.3info

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CPE 2.2info

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VulDB is the best source for vulnerability data and more expert information about this specific topic.

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