A buffer overflow in libtar might allow remote attackers to execute arbitrary code or cause a Denial of Service condition.
| Package | Arch | Vulnerable | Unaffected |
|---|---|---|---|
| dev-libs/libtar | * | < 1.2.20-r2 | >= 1.2.20-r2 |
libtar is a C library for manipulating POSIX tar files.
An integer overflow error within the “th_read()” function when processing long names or link extensions can be exploited to cause a heap-based buffer overflow via a specially crafted archive.
A remote attacker could entice a user to open a specially crafted file using a program linked against libtar, possibly resulting in execution of arbitrary code with the privileges of the process or a Denial of Service condition.
There is no known workaround at this time.
All libtar users should upgrade to the latest version:
# emerge --sync # emerge --ask --oneshot --verbose ">=dev-libs/libtar-1.2.20-r2"