REDHAT-BUG-2487669: High severity MATE Atril Document Viewer vulnerability
Atril Document Viewer is the default document reader of the MATE desktop environment for Linux. A single-click remote code execution vulnerability in versions prior to 1.26.3 and 1.28.4 allows an attacker to achieve arbitrary code execution as the user by tricking them into clicking a link inside a malicious PDF document. The PDF can be packaged as a polyglot file that is simultaneously a valid PDF and a valid ELF shared library, making the attack a single-file, single-click, configuration-independent RCE on stock atril installations. The root cause is shell/ev-application.c:evspawn, which builds a command line from attacker-controlled PDF link-destination fields without applying gshellquote. The cmdline is then handed to gappinfocreatefromcommandline, which shell-parses it back into argv — splitting any embedded --gtk-module=PATH into a separate argv element. GTK then dlopen()s the path during init, running any attribute((constructor)) it finds. Versions 1.26.3 and 1.28.4 contain a patch for the issue. This is the same defect class as CVE-2023-51698 (CBT --checkpoint-action injection in comics-document.c, fixed in 1.6.2) but in a different code path (shell/ev-application.c) that the original patch did not touch.
Affected Software
Remediation
Recommended actions to resolve this vulnerability, in priority order.
- Upgrade
Upgrade
Atril Document Viewer (MATE)to a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 1.26.3 - Upgrade
Upgrade
Atril Document Viewer (MATE)to a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 1.28.4
Event History
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the severity of REDHAT-BUG-2487669?
The severity of REDHAT-BUG-2487669 is rated as high with a score of 7.
How do I fix REDHAT-BUG-2487669?
To fix REDHAT-BUG-2487669, update the Atril Document Viewer to versions 1.26.3 or 1.28.4 or later.
What affected versions are vulnerable in REDHAT-BUG-2487669?
Versions of MATE Atril Document Viewer prior to 1.26.3 and 1.28.4 are vulnerable to REDHAT-BUG-2487669.
What type of vulnerability is REDHAT-BUG-2487669?
REDHAT-BUG-2487669 is a single-click remote code execution vulnerability.
Can REDHAT-BUG-2487669 lead to arbitrary code execution?
Yes, REDHAT-BUG-2487669 can allow an attacker to achieve arbitrary code execution as the user.