USN-5848-1: less vulnerability

Publication date

9 February 2023

Overview

Use of less could result in a denial of service


Packages

  • less - pager program similar to more

Details

David Leadbeater discovered that less was not properly handling escape
sequences when displaying raw control characters. A maliciously formed
OSC 8 hyperlink could possibly be used by an attacker to cause a denial of
service.

David Leadbeater discovered that less was not properly handling escape
sequences when displaying raw control characters. A maliciously formed
OSC 8 hyperlink could possibly be used by an attacker to cause a denial of
service.

Update instructions

In general, a standard system update will make all the necessary changes.

Learn more about how to get the fixes.

The problem can be corrected by updating your system to the following package versions:

Ubuntu Release Package Version
22.10 kinetic less –  590-1ubuntu0.22.10.1
22.04 jammy less –  590-1ubuntu0.22.04.1

Reduce your security exposure

Ubuntu Pro provides ten-year security coverage to 25,000+ packages in Main and Universe repositories, and it is free for up to five machines.


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