KDE Systemsettings: Privilege escalation

Background

KDE workspace configuration module for setting the date and time has a helper program which runs as root for performing actions.

Description

KDE Systemsettings fails to properly validate user input before passing it as argument in context of higher privilege.

Impact

A local attacker could gain privileges via a crafted ntpUtility (ntp utility name) argument.

Workaround

Add a polkit rule to disable the org.kde.kcontrol.kcmclock.save action.

Resolution

All KDE Systemsettings users should upgrade to the latest version:

 # emerge --sync
 # emerge --ask --oneshot --verbose
 ">=kde-base/systemsettings-4.11.13-r1"