REDHAT-BUG-2453839: High severity freedesktop.org libinput vulnerability
An attacker that can deploy a pre-compiled lua bytecode file in {/usr/share,/etc}/libinput/plugins and/or XDGCONFIGHOME/libinput/plugins can run unrestricted code in the process that uses libinput, typically the compositor. Lua bytecode is not verified at runtime and the sandboxing restrictions are no longer in effect. This allows an attacker to monitor any keyboard events and send those to an external destination and/or execute virtually any code under the calling process' privileges. For the exploit to work, lua plugins must be enabled in libinput and loaded by the compositor. If libinput is compiled with -Dautoload-plugins any plugin is loaded automatically (Fedora 43 and 44). The XDGCONFIGHOME directory is only loaded if enabled by the compositor (e.g. mutter 50 does this). The attacker must be able to deploy a lua plugin in one of the directories loaded by libinput.
Affected Software
Event History
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the severity of REDHAT-BUG-2453839?
The severity of REDHAT-BUG-2453839 is high due to the potential for attackers to execute unrestricted code.
How do I fix REDHAT-BUG-2453839?
To fix REDHAT-BUG-2453839, ensure that only trusted lua bytecode files are deployed in the specified directories.
What impact does REDHAT-BUG-2453839 have on affected systems?
The impact of REDHAT-BUG-2453839 can lead to code execution vulnerabilities in processes utilizing libinput, such as a compositor.
Which software is affected by REDHAT-BUG-2453839?
REDHAT-BUG-2453839 affects the freedesktop.org libinput software.
How can I prevent exploitation of REDHAT-BUG-2453839?
To prevent exploitation of REDHAT-BUG-2453839, restrict deployment of lua bytecode files and monitor plugin directories for unauthorized files.