R: Directory Traversal

Background

R is a language and environment for statistical computing and graphics.

Description

The native R package installation mechanisms do not sufficiently validate installed source packages for path traversal.

Impact

Installation of a malicious R package could result in an arbitrary file overwrite which could result in arbitrary code execution, as might be seen with the overwrite of an authorized_keys file.

Workaround

There is no known workaround at this time.

Resolution

All R users should upgrade to the latest version:

 # emerge --sync
 # emerge --ask --oneshot --verbose ">=dev-lang/R-4.0.4"