#VU93118 Use of Potentially Dangerous Function in Emacs - CVE-2024-39331

Vulnerability identifier: #VU93118

Vulnerability risk: High

CVSSv4.0: 5.7 [CVSS:4.0/AV:L/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:A/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N/E:U/U:Amber]

CVE-ID: CVE-2024-39331

CWE-ID: CWE-676

Exploitation vector: Network

Exploit availability: No

Vulnerable software:
Emacs
Client/Desktop applications / Office applications

Vendor: GNU

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 updates from vendor's website.

Vulnerable software versions

Emacs: 18.59 - 29.3

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

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Q & A

Can this vulnerability be exploited remotely?

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

Is there known malware, which exploits this vulnerability?

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