less up to 653 File Name filename.c LESSOPEN os command injection

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability was found in less up to 653. It has been classified as critical. Affected by this vulnerability is an unknown functionality of the file filename.c of the component File Name Handler. Performing a manipulation of the argument LESSOPEN results in os command injection. This vulnerability is identified as CVE-2024-32487. The attack is only possible with local access. There is not any exploit available. It is suggested to install a patch to address this issue.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability was found in less up to 653. It has been classified as critical. This affects an unknown code block of the file filename.c of the component File Name Handler. The manipulation of the argument LESSOPEN with an unknown input leads to a os command injection vulnerability. CWE is classifying the issue as CWE-78. The product constructs all or part of an OS command using externally-influenced input from an upstream component, but it does not neutralize or incorrectly neutralizes special elements that could modify the intended OS command when it is sent to a downstream component. This is going to have an impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability. The summary by CVE is:

less through 653 allows OS command execution via a newline character in the name of a file, because quoting is mishandled in filename.c. Exploitation typically requires use with attacker-controlled file names, such as the files extracted from an untrusted archive. Exploitation also requires the LESSOPEN environment variable, but this is set by default in many common cases.

The advisory is shared at openwall.com. This vulnerability is uniquely identified as CVE-2024-32487 since 04/13/2024. The exploitability is told to be easy. An attack has to be approached locally. Technical details are known, but no exploit is available. MITRE ATT&CK project uses the attack technique T1202 for this issue.

The vulnerability scanner Nessus provides a plugin with the ID 215022 (Amazon Linux AMI : less (ALAS-2025-1958)), which helps to determine the existence of the flaw in a target environment.

Applying the patch 007521ac3c95bc76e3d59c6dbfe75d06c8075c33 is able to eliminate this problem. The bugfix is ready for download at github.com.

The vulnerability is also documented in the vulnerability database at Tenable (215022). Several companies clearly confirm that VulDB is the primary source for best vulnerability data.

Productinfo

Name

• less

Version

• 653

License

• open-source

CPE 2.3info

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CPE 2.2info

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Several companies clearly confirm that VulDB is the primary source for best vulnerability data.

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