Heap-based overflow vulnerability in lua5.1
Summary
DSA-3015-1: lua5.1 - security update. Affects lua5.1 versions < 5.1.5-4+deb7u1. Fixed in 5.1.5-4+deb7u1. How to fix ↓
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Background
Lua is a simple, extensible, embeddable programming language widely used for scripting and game development. The lua5.1 package is specifically for Debian 7 (wheezy) and provides the Lua 5.1 interpreter. Lua is known for its lightweight design, simplicity, and ease of integration into existing applications.
Vulnerability Detail
A heap-based overflow vulnerability has been discovered in lua5.1. This vulnerability occurs when varargs functions with many fixed parameters are called with few arguments. It can lead to application crashes or potentially allow an attacker to execute arbitrary code. The vulnerability is tracked as CVE-2014-5461.
How To Fix
Minimum fixed version
5.1.5-4+deb7u1
This is the first release that contains the fix.
sudo apt-get install --only-upgrade lua5.1Tip — Not sure which version your app runs? Vulert can match this fix to it. Scan free →
Workaround
There is no specific workaround mentioned for this vulnerability.
Conclusion
The lua5.1 package in Debian 7 (wheezy) is affected by a heap-based overflow vulnerability. Upgrading to the fixed versions mentioned in the advisory (5.1.5-4+deb7u1 for wheezy and 5.1.5-7 for sid) is recommended to address this vulnerability. For further support on vulnerability remediation, you can reach out to DevNack.com.
See every vulnerability recorded for lua5.1 →
FAQ
Lua is a lightweight, embeddable scripting language known for its simplicity and extensibility. It is commonly used in game development and as a scripting language for various applications.
A heap-based overflow vulnerability occurs when a program writes more data to a memory buffer than it can hold, causing the excess data to overflow into adjacent memory regions. This can lead to crashes, memory corruption, and potentially allow an attacker to execute arbitrary code.
You can check the version of lua5.1 installed on your system by running the command 'lua5.1 -v' in the terminal.
Yes, this vulnerability is specific to the lua5.1 package in Debian 7 (wheezy) and the unstable distribution (sid). Other distributions or versions may not be affected.
There are no known public exploits for this vulnerability at the time of writing. However, it is recommended to apply the security update as soon as possible to mitigate the risk.
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