"." should not be included in the PATH variable

Description

The variable PATH in $alephe_root/aleph_start contains a '.' which holds a potential risk for exploit (executing scripts from the current directory)

Resolution

The "." in the PATH variable cannot be eliminated completely, but the risks for an potential exploit minimized.
The workaround is to set the "." as the last option of the PATH so that the aleph/exe directory will always be the first option.
Change the following line in $alephe_root/aleph_start:

to:

set path=($path /usr/local/bin )

and add the "." to the last update of the PATH:

setenv    PATH               "${PATH}:${aleph_exe}:${alephm_proc}:/etc:."
 

• Article last edited: 24-September-2017