CVE-1999-1433 in JetAdmin
Summary
by MITRE
HP JetAdmin D.01.09 on Solaris allows local users to change the permissions of arbitrary files via a symlink attack on the /tmp/jetadmin.log file.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/18/2024
This vulnerability exists in HP JetAdmin version D.01.09 running on Solaris operating systems where the application creates a log file at /tmp/jetadmin.log without proper security controls. The flaw stems from insufficient validation of file creation operations, allowing local attackers to exploit a symbolic link attack mechanism. When the application attempts to write to the log file, it follows symbolic links without verifying the target file's integrity or ownership, creating a path traversal scenario that enables privilege escalation.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability relies on the predictable temporary file naming convention used by HP JetAdmin. Attackers can create a symbolic link at /tmp/jetadmin.log pointing to any file they wish to modify, then trigger the application to write to the log file. This results in the application inadvertently writing data to the target file, effectively allowing permission changes or arbitrary file modifications. The vulnerability specifically manifests when the application lacks proper file descriptor validation and does not implement secure temporary file creation practices.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is significant for systems running HP JetAdmin on Solaris platforms, as it provides local users with unauthorized file permission modification capabilities. An attacker with local access can exploit this weakness to escalate privileges, modify critical system files, or compromise the integrity of the logging mechanism itself. This represents a privilege escalation vulnerability that can be exploited to gain elevated system access, potentially leading to complete system compromise. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it requires minimal privileges to exploit and can be leveraged for persistent access.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on implementing proper file system security controls and secure coding practices. Organizations should immediately apply vendor patches or updates to HP JetAdmin when available, as this vulnerability has been widely documented and addressed in subsequent releases. System administrators should implement proper file ownership and permissions for temporary directories, ensuring that /tmp and related directories have appropriate security attributes. The principle of least privilege should be enforced, and applications should avoid creating files in world-writable directories without proper validation. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-377: Insecure Temporary File and CWE-276: Incorrect Permission Assignment, and can be mapped to ATT&CK technique T1068: Local Privilege Escalation through the exploitation of insecure file handling mechanisms.
Additional protective measures include implementing file system monitoring to detect unauthorized symbolic link creation in temporary directories, using file integrity monitoring tools to track changes to critical system files, and conducting regular security audits of applications that handle temporary file operations. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of secure temporary file creation practices and proper input validation in preventing symlink-based attacks. Organizations should also consider implementing mandatory access controls and privilege separation to limit the impact of such vulnerabilities even when they are present in the system.