Description
The sort_offline function for texindex in texinfo 4.8 and earlier allows local users to overwrite arbitrary files via a symlink attack on temporary files.
Fixed in Linux distributions
Distributions backport fixes, so the version that fixes this vulnerability differs per release — upgrade to at least the version shown. From the distributions' security trackers and advisories.
Debian
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Debian 14 | texinfo | 4.8-1 | — |
| Debian 13 | texinfo | 4.8-1 | — |
| Debian 12 | texinfo | 4.8-1 | — |
| Debian 3.1 | texinfo | 4.7-2.2sarge2 | DSA-1219-1 |
Red Hat
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| RHEL 4 | info +1 | 4.7-5.el4.2 | RHSA-2006:0727 |
| RHEL 3 | info +1 | 4.5-3.el3.1 | RHSA-2006:0727 |
| RHEL 2 | info +1 | 4.0b-3.el2.1 | RHSA-2006:0727 |
Advisories 2
- RHSA-2006:0727 Red Hat Security Advisory: texinfo security update Red Hat Security Advisories (RHSA) · Jun 26, 2026
- DSA-1219-1 texinfo Debian Security (DSA / DLA) · Mar 9, 2026
References
- http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=305530
- USN-194-1 vendor-advisory
- RHSA-2006:0727 vendor-advisory
- ADV-2007-1939 vdb-entry
- TSLSA-2005-0059 vendor-advisory
- APPLE-SA-2007-05-24 vendor-advisory
- 25402 third-party-advisory
- 20070404 VMSA-2007-0003 VMware ESX 3.0.1 and 3.0.0 server security updates mailing-list
- 17076 third-party-advisory
- 18401 third-party-advisory
- MDKSA-2005:175 vendor-advisory
- http://bugs.debian.org/cgi-bin/bugreport.cgi?bug=328365
- 17211 third-party-advisory
- ADV-2007-1267 vdb-entry
- 14854 vdb-entry
- 23112 third-party-advisory
- http://www.vmware.com/support/vi3/doc/esx-2559638-patch.html
- 17093 third-party-advisory
- 24788 third-party-advisory
- 16816 third-party-advisory
- 22929 third-party-advisory
- GLSA-200510-04 vendor-advisory
- 17070 third-party-advisory
- 1015468 vdb-entry
- 1014992 vdb-entry
- http://www.vmware.com/support/vi3/doc/esx-1121906-patch.html
- 17215 third-party-advisory
- oval:org.mitre.oval:def:10589 vdb-entry signature
- DSA-1219 vendor-advisory
- SUSE-SR:2005:023 vendor-advisory