invalid signature tag Archivesize on rpm packages created by install4j

[openaudible]

Install4j is a popular installer maker. It appears that some or all rpm's created by them are not compatible with the latest rpm 4.16.1.3 installed with fedora. rpm works as expected in versions 4.16.0 and earlier.

Example: rpm -qvvpR install4j_linux-x64_9_0_1.rpm
returns error: run invalid signature tag Archivesize (1046)

Below is a simple Dockerfile that shows how to reproduce this:

# Dockerfile to demonstrate rpm bug with latest rpm or install4j
# To test, save this as "Dockerfile" and run:
# docker build -t testrpm . 
# to Debug in bash, docker run -it testrpm
FROM fedora:latest
WORKDIR /test
RUN yum -y install wget
RUN wget https://download-gcdn.ej-technologies.com/install4j/install4j_linux-x64_9_0_1.rpm
RUN echo "rpm -qvvpR install4j_linux-x64_9_0_1.rpm" > test.sh && chmod +x test.sh
# Run and ignore the expected error
RUN ./test.sh;exit 0
ENTRYPOINT ["/bin/bash"]

This was found by a user in issue: openaudible/openaudible#603

A work-around for is to downgrade rpm from 4.16.1.3 to 4.16.0 with the simple command: yum downgrade rpm
which you can also test by running the above docker:

docker run -it testrpm
./test.sh # fail
yum -y downgrade rpm
./test.sh # success

These are reproducible using the "latest" versions as of 4/13/2021.

[pmatilai]

Yup, it's a regression introduced in 4.15.1.1 and 4.16.1.3.

Archivesize (1046) generally only exists in the main header in rpm v3 packages (a very nearly extinct species) which is how this got through. install4j is not a v3 package but a different kind of peculiarity, but we'll need to allow this as long as v3 packages are supported. Will fix.

[sshedi]

Hi @pmatilai - any updates on this issue? It will be really helpful if it's fixed soon.

[techpavan]

+1

[neingeist]

I also have this problem with this software: https://download.mediathekview.de/stabil/MediathekView-latest-linux.rpm

(I haven't checked, but it's Java, so I suspect Install4J here, too)

[techpavan]

@pmatilai Could you please share if any ETA on the fix? If this takes longer, we can implement workarounds to downgrade in our applications rather than waiting for the actual fix.

[DemiMarie]

@pmatilai Could you please share if any ETA on the fix? If this takes longer, we can implement workarounds to downgrade in our applications rather than waiting for the actual fix.

Please do not downgrade; this exposes you to a severe security hole (CVE-2021-20271) that allows for signature verification bypass and remote code execution. I will make a PR here, but please file a support ticket with install4j.

[techpavan]

@DemiMarie Thanks for the quick action. We are not direct consumers of install4j, but we consume few packages which run through this issue. Will have to probably wait for any install4j consumers to report it.

[DemiMarie]

@DemiMarie Thanks for the quick action. We are not direct consumers of install4j, but we consume few packages which run through this issue. Will have to probably wait for any install4j consumers to report it.

You’re welcome @techpavan!

[openaudible]

Install4j has fixed the issue on version 9.0.2 and higher. But not a free upgrade for many.

Software that uses the install4j installer often also includes a .sh download that can be run with -q to run it without the UI.

[sshedi]

@DemiMarie thanks a lot for the fix. Any reasons behind why it is not yet merged?

[DemiMarie]

@DemiMarie thanks a lot for the fix. Any reasons behind why it is not yet merged?

The RPM project is bottlenecked on code reviews. #1677 and #1672 have not been reviewed either, and both fix legitimate security vulnerabilities.

[pmatilai]

We're bottlenecked on all manner of things, and submitting more PR's is not always the best way to help.

[sshedi]

Hi @pmatilai - can you please review and take this fix on priority? this is a blocker for us.

[pmatilai]

Regressions are always a priority. It's just that world is full of priorities too. One should not think that honking the horn here will get some dark corner fixed any faster.

[sshedi]

Thanks a lot @pmatilai, have a nice time ahead. :)