Two problems with current ruby scripts

[Norbert Preining <preining@logic.at>]

Dear all!

THe packages of ConTeXt I am currently preparing are tested by a user
and he send back the following questions/comments. Could you please
comment on this.

For the background: I install all the stubs from 
	scripts/context/stubs/unix
into /usr/bin, add a texmfstart stub that calls ruby with the right path
to texmfstart.rb.

----- Forwarded message from Mike Bird <mgb@yosemite.net> -----
> From: Mike Bird <mgb@yosemite.net>
> Subject: New texexec very confused
> To: debian-tex-maint@lists.debian.org
> Date: Tue, 24 Oct 2006 20:52:30 -0700
> 
> The new ruby texexec is very confused.  The problem of output
> defaulting to pdf instead of dvi has already been noted.  Here
> are some additional problems:
> 
> Command:            texexec --output=dvips foo
> Should produce:     foo.dvi
> Actually produces:  foo.pdf
> 
> Command:            texexec --dvi foo
> Should produce:     foo.dvi
> Actually produces:  foo.dvi AND OVERWRITES foo.ps
> 
> --Mike Bird
----- End forwarded message -----


----- Forwarded message from Mike Bird <mgb@yosemite.net> -----
> From: Mike Bird <mgb@yosemite.net>
> Subject: Is texmfstart secure?
> To: debian-tex-maint@lists.debian.org
> Date: Tue, 24 Oct 2006 21:08:53 -0700
> 
> Package: context 2006.08.08-0.4
> 
> If anyone who knows Ruby has time, can you tell if texmfstart is
> secure?  I was really surprised to see client-server code.  Even
> localhost services can lead to privilege escalation if not careful.
> For example, /usr/share/texmf/scripts/context/ruby/texmfstart.rb
> contains the following.  I'm not a Ruby programmer but the comment
> leads me to think there is a potential problem here:
> 
>                 # danger lurking
>                 buffer = ' ' * 260
>                 length = filemethod.call(filename,buffer,buffer.size)
>                 if length>0 then
>                     return buffer.slice(0..length-1)
> 
> It looks like PRAGMA is trying to reinvent kpsewhich, integrate internet
> explorer, launch editors, and do a whole bunch of other stuff I haven't
> figured out.  texexec should be a simple wrapper around tex or pdftex
> but it works via texmfstart.rb which is 2541 lines of Ruby - and that's
> a lot of Ruby.  It may all be wonderful (I am not a Ruby programmer) but
> it makes me nervous.
> 
> Is an older/simpler texexec still available?
> 
> --Mike Bird
----- End forwarded message -----

Best wishes

Norbert

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dr. Norbert Preining <preining@logic.at>                    Università di Siena
Debian Developer <preining@debian.org>                         Debian TeX Group
gpg DSA: 0x09C5B094      fp: 14DF 2E6C 0307 BE6D AD76  A9C0 D2BF 4AA3 09C5 B094
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TABLEY SUPERIOR (n.)
The look directed at you in a theatre bar in the interval by people
who've already got their drinks.
			--- Douglas Adams, The Meaning of Liff


-- 
To UNSUBSCRIBE, email to debian-tex-maint-request@lists.debian.org
with a subject of "unsubscribe". Trouble? Contact listmaster@lists.debian.org