Buffer overflow in Subversion

Background

Subversion is a version control system intended to eventually replace CVS. Like CVS, it has an optional client-server architecture (where the server can be an Apache server running mod_svn, or an ssh program as in CVS’s :ext: method). In addition to supporting the features found in CVS, Subversion also provides support for moving and copying files and directories.

Description

All releases of Subversion prior to 1.0.3 have a vulnerability in the date-parsing code. This vulnerability may allow denial of service or arbitrary code execution as the Subversion user. Both the client and server are vulnerable, and write access is NOT required to the server’s repository.

Impact

All servers and clients are vulnerable. Specifically, clients that allow other users to write to administrative files in a working copy may be exploited. Additionally all servers (whether they are httpd/DAV or svnserve) are vulnerable. Write access to the server is not required; public read-only Subversion servers are also exploitable.

Workaround

There is no known workaround at this time. All users are encouraged to upgrade to the latest available version.

Resolution

All Subversion users should upgrade to the latest stable version:

 # emerge sync
 
 # emerge -pv ">=dev-util/subversion-1.0.3"
 # emerge ">=dev-util/subversion-1.0.3"