REDHAT-BUG-709139: Medium severity glib vulnerability
Henne Vogelsang discovered that, as of glib 2.28, it was possible to run the default web browser (usually Firefox) in the GDM session, as the gdm user. This resulted in uncontrolled access to the local file system and possibly other resources as the gdm user. This is because glib 2.28 has changed the way URI handlers are registered; while it used to be controlled via gconf settings, it now is controlled via x-scheme-handler/<scheme> mime types (e.g. x-scheme-handler/http).
Statement:
Not vulnerable. This issue did not affect the versions of gdm as shipped with Red Hat Enterprise Linux 4, 5, or 6.
Affected Software
Event History
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the severity of REDHAT-BUG-709139?
REDHAT-BUG-709139 has the potential for uncontrolled access to the local file system, indicating a high severity level.
How do I fix REDHAT-BUG-709139?
To fix REDHAT-BUG-709139, users should update GLib to a version later than 2.28 that addresses this issue.
What does REDHAT-BUG-709139 affect?
REDHAT-BUG-709139 affects systems running GLib version 2.28 or earlier.
Who discovered the vulnerability in REDHAT-BUG-709139?
The vulnerability in REDHAT-BUG-709139 was discovered by Henne Vogelsang.
What are the implications of REDHAT-BUG-709139?
The implications of REDHAT-BUG-709139 include possible unauthorized access to sensitive resources as the gdm user.