CVE-2023-28617 Overview
CVE-2023-28617 is a command injection vulnerability in org-babel-execute:latex within ob-latex.el in Org Mode through version 9.6.1 for GNU Emacs. The vulnerability allows attackers to execute arbitrary commands via a file name or directory name that contains shell metacharacters. This occurs when Org Mode processes LaTeX code blocks and fails to properly sanitize file or directory names before passing them to shell commands.
Critical Impact
Attackers can achieve arbitrary command execution on systems running vulnerable versions of GNU Emacs Org Mode by crafting malicious file or directory names containing shell metacharacters.
Affected Products
- GNU Org Mode through version 9.6.1 for GNU Emacs
Discovery Timeline
- 2023-03-19 - CVE-2023-28617 published to NVD
- 2025-11-03 - Last updated in NVD database
Technical Details for CVE-2023-28617
Vulnerability Analysis
This vulnerability is classified as CWE-78 (Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an OS Command), commonly known as OS Command Injection. The flaw exists in the org-babel-execute:latex function within the ob-latex.el file, which is responsible for executing LaTeX code blocks in Org Mode documents.
When Org Mode processes LaTeX source blocks, it constructs shell commands that include file paths and directory names. The vulnerable code fails to properly sanitize or escape these names before incorporating them into shell command strings. An attacker who can control the file name or directory name—whether through a maliciously crafted Org document or by placing files with specially crafted names—can inject arbitrary shell commands that execute with the privileges of the user running Emacs.
The attack requires local access and some user interaction, as the victim must open and evaluate an Org document containing the malicious content, or navigate to a directory containing files with malicious names. Successful exploitation grants the attacker full control over the affected system's confidentiality, integrity, and availability within the context of the user's permissions.
Root Cause
The root cause of CVE-2023-28617 is insufficient input validation and improper handling of shell metacharacters in file and directory names within the org-babel-execute:latex function. The code constructs shell commands by directly concatenating user-controlled file path strings without proper escaping or sanitization. Shell metacharacters such as semicolons (;), backticks (`), dollar signs ($), pipes (|), and ampersands (&) in file names are interpreted by the shell as command separators or special operators, allowing command injection.
Attack Vector
The attack vector for this vulnerability is local, requiring the attacker to either:
- Craft a malicious Org Mode document containing a LaTeX source block that references a file or directory with shell metacharacters in its name
- Create a file or directory with a malicious name in a location where an Org Mode user might process LaTeX blocks
When the victim evaluates the LaTeX code block (for example, by exporting the document or explicitly executing the code block), the injected shell commands execute. The vulnerability mechanism exploits the way Elisp code passes arguments to external shell processes without proper quoting.
For detailed technical information, see the Org Mode Mailing List Discussion and the official GNU Emacs Org Mode security commits.
Detection Methods for CVE-2023-28617
Indicators of Compromise
- Org Mode documents containing LaTeX code blocks with unusual file or directory references containing special characters like ;, `, $, |, &, or $()
- Unexpected shell processes spawned as children of Emacs processes
- Files or directories with names containing shell metacharacters in locations commonly accessed by Emacs users
- Unusual system activity or network connections originating from Emacs processes
Detection Strategies
- Monitor for Emacs processes spawning unexpected child shell processes or executing unusual commands
- Implement file integrity monitoring to detect creation of files with suspicious names containing shell metacharacters
- Review Org Mode documents before opening them from untrusted sources, particularly examining LaTeX code blocks
- Deploy endpoint detection and response (EDR) solutions to identify anomalous command execution patterns from text editors
Monitoring Recommendations
- Configure SentinelOne Singularity to monitor for command injection patterns originating from Emacs processes
- Enable logging of shell command execution on systems where GNU Emacs is commonly used
- Implement alerts for the creation of files with shell metacharacters in their names
- Monitor for lateral movement or privilege escalation attempts following Emacs process execution
How to Mitigate CVE-2023-28617
Immediate Actions Required
- Update GNU Emacs Org Mode to a version newer than 9.6.1 that includes the security patches
- Avoid opening Org Mode documents from untrusted sources, especially those containing LaTeX code blocks
- Review and audit any Org files before executing code blocks within them
- Consider disabling automatic code block evaluation in Org Mode configuration
Patch Information
GNU has released patches addressing this vulnerability through two commits to the Org Mode repository:
Additionally, Debian has released security updates for affected packages as documented in their LTS Security Announcements. Users should update their Org Mode installation through their package manager or by updating to a patched version of GNU Emacs.
Workarounds
- Disable LaTeX code block evaluation by customizing org-babel-load-languages to exclude latex
- Set org-confirm-babel-evaluate to t to require confirmation before executing any code block
- Avoid working with Org files in directories containing files with unusual names
- Run Emacs in a sandboxed environment or with reduced privileges when handling untrusted documents
# Emacs configuration to disable automatic LaTeX evaluation
# Add to your .emacs or init.el file:
# (setq org-confirm-babel-evaluate t)
#
# Or completely disable LaTeX babel support:
# (org-babel-do-load-languages
# 'org-babel-load-languages
# '((latex . nil)))
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