CVE-2019-11460 : What You Need to Know

A vulnerability was found in GNOME gnome-desktop versions 3.26, 3.28, and 3.30 before 3.30.2.2, as well as 3.32 before 3.32.1.1. If a compromised thumbnailer manages to utilize the TIOCSTI ioctl to inject characters into the input buffer of its controlling terminal, it can evade the bubblewrap sandbox that restricts thumbnailers. This vulnerability arises from the lack of appropriate filtering of the TIOCSTI ioctl on 64-bit systems, resembling CVE-2019-10063.

Understanding CVE-2019-11460

This CVE identifies a security flaw in GNOME gnome-desktop that could allow an attacker to escape the sandbox by injecting characters into the input buffer of the controlling terminal.

What is CVE-2019-11460?

CVE-2019-11460 is a vulnerability in GNOME gnome-desktop versions 3.26, 3.28, 3.30, and 3.32, allowing a compromised thumbnailer to bypass the sandbox restrictions.

The Impact of CVE-2019-11460

The vulnerability enables an attacker to escape the sandbox if the thumbnailer has a controlling terminal, potentially leading to unauthorized access and further exploitation of the system.

Technical Details of CVE-2019-11460

This section provides more in-depth technical insights into the vulnerability.

Vulnerability Description

The issue arises from improper filtering of the TIOCSTI ioctl on 64-bit systems, allowing a compromised thumbnailer to evade the bubblewrap sandbox.

Affected Systems and Versions

GNOME gnome-desktop versions 3.26, 3.28, 3.30, and 3.32 before specific patch versions.

Exploitation Mechanism

A compromised thumbnailer can use the TIOCSTI ioctl to inject characters into its controlling terminal's input buffer, escaping the sandbox.

Mitigation and Prevention

Protecting systems from CVE-2019-11460 requires immediate actions and long-term security practices.

Immediate Steps to Take

Apply the necessary patches provided by GNOME to address the vulnerability.
Monitor and restrict access to potentially vulnerable systems.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update software and systems to prevent known vulnerabilities.
Implement strong access controls and monitoring mechanisms to detect suspicious activities.

Patching and Updates

Ensure all affected systems are updated with the latest patches from GNOME to mitigate the CVE-2019-11460 vulnerability.