Description
Untrusted search path vulnerability in the Python module in gedit allows local users to execute arbitrary code via a Trojan horse Python file in the current working directory, related to a vulnerability in the PySys_SetArgv function (CVE-2008-5983).
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 | gedit | 2.22.3-2 | — |
| Debian 13 | gedit | 2.22.3-2 | — |
| Debian 12 | gedit | 2.22.3-2 | — |
| Debian 5.0 | gedit | 2.22.3-1+lenny1 | DTSA-191-1 |
Advisories 1
- DTSA-191-1 gedit - insecure python search path Debian Security (DSA / DLA) · Mar 9, 2026
References
- 33769 third-party-advisory
- MDVSA-2009:039 vendor-advisory
- gedit-pysyssetargv-privilege-escalation(48271) vdb-entry
- FEDORA-2009-1189 vendor-advisory
- 33445 vdb-entry
- GLSA-200903-41 vendor-advisory
- [oss-security] 20090126 CVE request -- Python < 2.6 PySys_SetArgv issues (epiphany, csound, dia, eog, gedit, xchat, vim, nautilus-python, Gnumeric) mailing-list
- http://bugzilla.gnome.org/show_bug.cgi?id=569214
- 34522 third-party-advisory
- 33759 third-party-advisory
- https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=481556