CVE-2000-1162 in Ghostscript
Summary
by MITRE
ghostscript before 5.10-16 allows local users to overwrite files of other users via a symlink attack.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/01/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2000-1162 represents a significant privilege escalation and data integrity issue within the ghostscript software suite prior to version 5.10-16. This flaw enables local attackers to exploit symbolic link vulnerabilities to overwrite files belonging to other users on the same system. The vulnerability stems from improper handling of temporary files during the processing of PostScript and PDF documents, creating a window where malicious users can manipulate file system operations through carefully crafted symbolic links.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the ghostscript application creating temporary files in predictable locations without proper validation of symbolic link existence. When a local user executes a malicious PostScript or PDF document through ghostscript, the application may create temporary files that are susceptible to symlink attacks. An attacker with knowledge of the target system's file structure can establish symbolic links in the expected temporary file locations, causing ghostscript to write data to files owned by other users instead of the intended temporary location. This behavior directly violates the principle of least privilege and creates opportunities for unauthorized data modification and potential privilege escalation.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple file overwriting to encompass broader system security implications. Attackers can leverage this weakness to overwrite critical system files, configuration data, or user-specific documents, potentially leading to system instability, data loss, or unauthorized access to sensitive information. The vulnerability is particularly concerning in multi-user environments where users may have different privilege levels, as it allows lower-privileged users to compromise higher-privileged user data. This type of attack falls under the category of privilege escalation and file system manipulation attacks, which are commonly categorized under CWE-59 and CWE-22 in the Common Weakness Enumeration framework, representing improper handling of symbolic links and path traversal issues respectively.
From an adversary tactics perspective, this vulnerability aligns with several techniques documented in the MITRE ATT&CK framework, specifically targeting the privilege escalation and persistence capabilities. Attackers can utilize this weakness to establish backdoors, modify system binaries, or corrupt user data to achieve long-term access to compromised systems. The vulnerability also demonstrates poor input validation and file system security practices that are commonly exploited in various attack scenarios. Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including updating to ghostscript version 5.10-16 or later, implementing proper file system permissions, and monitoring for unauthorized symbolic link creation in temporary directories. Additionally, system administrators should consider implementing mandatory access controls and regular security audits to detect and prevent similar vulnerabilities from being exploited in other software components. The vulnerability serves as a reminder of the critical importance of proper file system handling in security-sensitive applications and the need for comprehensive input validation to prevent symbolic link manipulation attacks.