Remote code execution in Org Mode

1) Use of Potentially Dangerous Function

EUVDB-ID: #VU93118

Risk: High

CVSSv3.1: 7.7 [CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H/E:U/RL:O/RC:C]

CVE-ID: CVE-2024-39331

CWE-ID: CWE-676 - Use of Potentially Dangerous Function

Exploit availability: No

Description

The vulnerability allows a remote attacker to compromise the affected system.

The vulnerability exists due to org-link-expand-abbrev in lisp/ol.el expands a %(...) link abbrev even when it specifies an unsafe function. A remote attacker can execute arbitrary OS commands on the system.

Mitigation

Install update from vendor's website.

Vulnerable software versions

Org Mode: 4.13 - 9.7.4

External links

http://git.savannah.gnu.org/cgit/emacs.git/tree/etc/NEWS?h=emacs-29
http://list.orgmode.org/87sex5gdqc.fsf%40localhost/
http://lists.gnu.org/archive/html/info-gnu-emacs/2024-06/msg00000.html
http://git.savannah.gnu.org/cgit/emacs/org-mode.git/commit/?id=f4cc61636947b5c2f0afc67174dd369fe3277aa8
http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2024/06/23/1
http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2024/06/23/2
http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=40768225

Q & A

Can this vulnerability be exploited remotely?

Yes. This vulnerability can be exploited by a remote non-authenticated attacker via the Internet.

How the attacker can exploit this vulnerability?

The attacker would have to trick the victim to visit a specially crafted website or open a file.

Is there known malware, which exploits this vulnerability?

No. We are not aware of malware exploiting this vulnerability.