XChat is a multiplatform IRC client.
The SOCKS 5 proxy code in XChat is vulnerable to a remote exploit. Users would have to be using XChat through a SOCKS 5 server, enable SOCKS 5 traversal which is disabled by default and also connect to an attacker's custom proxy server.
This vulnerability may allow an attacker to run arbitrary code within the context of the user ID of the XChat client.
A workaround is not currently known for this issue. All users are advised to upgrade to the latest version of the affected package.
All XChat users should upgrade to the latest stable version:
# emerge sync
# emerge -pv ">=net-irc/xchat-2.0.8-r1"
# emerge ">=net-irc/xchat-2.0.8-r1"
Note that users of the gtk1 version of xchat (1.8.*) should upgrade to xchat-1.8.11-r1:
# emerge sync
# emerge -pv "=net-irc/xchat-1.8.11-r1"
# emerge "=net-irc/xchat-1.8.11-r1"