iDEFENSE discovered a buffer overflow vulnerability in the ELF format parsing of the "file" command, one which can be used to execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the user running the command. The vulnerability can be exploited by crafting a special ELF binary which is then input to file. This could be accomplished by leaving the binary on the file system and waiting for someone to use file to identify it, or by passing it to a service that uses file to classify input. (For example, some printer filters run file to determine how to process input going to a printer.) Fixed packages are available in version 3.28-1.potato.1 for Debian 2.2 (potato) and version 3.37-3.1.woody.1 for Debian 3.0 (woody). We recommend you upgrade your file package immediately.
iDEFENSE discovered a buffer overflow vulnerability in the ELF format parsing of the "file" command, one which can be used to execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the user running the command. The vulnerability can be exploited by crafting a special ELF binary which is then input to file. This could be accomplished by leaving the binary on the file system and waiting for someone to use file to identify it, or by passing it to a service that uses file to classify input. (For example, some printer filters run file to determine how to process input going to a printer.)
Fixed packages are available in version 3.28-1.potato.1 for Debian 2.2 (potato) and version 3.37-3.1.woody.1 for Debian 3.0 (woody). We recommend you upgrade your file package immediately.
MD5 checksums of the listed files are available in the original advisory.
Vulmon