tetex security update

Updated packages for dvips are available which fix a vulnerability allowing
print users to execute arbitrary commands.

[Updated 13 Aug 2003]
Added tetex-doc package that was originally left out of the errata.

The dvips utility converts DVI format into PostScript(TM), and is used in
Red Hat Linux as a print filter for printing DVI files. A vulnerability
has been found in dvips which uses the system() function insecurely when
managing fonts.

Since dvips is used in a print filter, this allows local or remote
attackers who have print access to carefully craft a print job that allows
them to execute arbitrary code as the user 'lp'.

A work around for this vulnerability is to remove the print filter for DVI
files. The following commands, run as root, will accomplish this:

rm -f /usr/share/printconf/mf_rules/mf40-tetex_filters
rm -f /usr/lib/rhs/rhs-printfilters/dvi-to-ps.fpi

However, to fix the problem in the dvips utility as well as remove the
print filter we recommend that all users upgrade to the these packages
contained within this erratum which contain a patch for this issue.

This vulnerability was discovered by Olaf Kirch of SuSE.

Additionally, the file /var/lib/texmf/ls-R had world-writable permissions.

This issue is also fixed by the packages contained within this erratum.

Before applying this update, make sure all previously released errata
relevant to your system have been applied.

To update all RPMs for your particular architecture, run:

rpm -Fvh [filenames]

where [filenames] is a list of the RPMs you wish to upgrade. Only those
RPMs which are currently installed will be updated. Those RPMs which are
not installed but included in the list will not be updated. Note that you
can also use wildcards (*.rpm) if your current directory *only* contains the
desired RPMs.

Please note that this update is also available via Red Hat Network. Many
people find this an easier way to apply updates. To use Red Hat Network,
launch the Red Hat Update Agent with the following command:

up2date

This will start an interactive process that will result in the appropriate
RPMs being upgraded on your system.

http://cve.mitre.org/cgi-bin/cvename.cgi?name=CVE-2002-0836

dvips, system, tetex