Description
The default configuration of the shell_escape_commands directive in conf/texmf.d/95NonPath.cnf in the tex-common package before 2.08.1 in Debian GNU/Linux squeeze, Ubuntu 10.10 and 10.04 LTS, and possibly other operating systems lists certain programs, which might allow remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via a crafted TeX document.
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 | tex-common | 2.09 | — |
| Debian 13 | tex-common | 2.09 | — |
| Debian 12 | tex-common | 2.09 | — |
| Debian 6.0 | tex-common | 2.08.1 | DSA-2198-1 |
Advisories 1
- DSA-2198-1 tex-common - insufficient input sanitizing Debian Security (DSA / DLA) · Mar 9, 2026
References
- texcommon-shellescapecommands-ce(66249) vdb-entry
- 43973 third-party-advisory
- http://svn.debian.org/wsvn/debian-tex/?op=comp&compare%5B%5D=%2Ftex-common%2Ftrunk%404781&compare%5B%5D=%2Ftex-common%2Ftrunk%404812
- 46986 vdb-entry
- ADV-2011-0731 vdb-entry
- http://svn.debian.org/wsvn/debian-tex/tex-common/trunk/?op=log
- USN-1103-1 vendor-advisory
- DSA-2198 vendor-advisory
- ADV-2011-0861 vdb-entry
- 43816 third-party-advisory