CVE-2001-0378 in readline
Summary
by MITRE
readline prior to 4.1, in OpenBSD 2.8 and earlier, creates history files with insecure permissions, which allows a local attacker to recover potentially sensitive information via readline history files.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/08/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2001-0378 represents a significant security flaw in the readline library implementation within OpenBSD systems prior to version 2.8. This issue specifically affects readline versions before 4.1 and demonstrates a critical weakness in how history files are managed and secured. The vulnerability stems from the improper handling of file permissions during the creation of history files, creating an exploitable condition that compromises system security. Organizations running affected versions of OpenBSD or systems utilizing vulnerable readline libraries face potential exposure of sensitive information through these insecurely configured history files.
The technical flaw manifests in the insecure permission settings applied to readline history files, which are typically created with world-readable permissions instead of the more secure user-only access restrictions. This misconfiguration allows any local user on the system to access and read the history files, potentially exposing command sequences, passwords, and other sensitive data that users have entered through applications utilizing readline functionality. The vulnerability operates at the file system level where proper access controls should have been enforced but were not implemented, creating a persistent security weakness that remains active as long as the vulnerable system is operational. This flaw directly relates to the common security principle of least privilege, where system resources should only be accessible to authorized users with appropriate permissions.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it provides attackers with valuable reconnaissance data that can be used for further exploitation. History files may contain command sequences that reveal system administration patterns, password entries, or other sensitive inputs that could aid in privilege escalation or targeted attacks against specific users. Attackers can leverage this information to understand user behavior, identify potential targets, or discover system configurations that might be exploited through other vulnerabilities. The local nature of this attack means that it requires only user-level access to the system, making it particularly dangerous as it can be exploited by any user who has access to the affected system. This vulnerability represents a classic case of privilege escalation through information gathering, where a seemingly minor flaw in file permissions creates a significant security risk.
The mitigation strategy for CVE-2001-0378 involves upgrading to OpenBSD version 2.8 or later, which includes the corrected readline implementation with proper permission handling. Organizations should also implement regular security audits to identify and remediate similar permission-related vulnerabilities across their systems. System administrators should review file permissions on history files and ensure that appropriate access controls are enforced using standard security practices. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-732, which addresses incorrect permission assignment, and represents a clear violation of the principle of least privilege that is fundamental to secure system design. Additionally, this issue maps to ATT&CK technique T1083, which involves discovering file and directory permissions, demonstrating how insecure file permissions can enable adversaries to gather information about system configurations and user activities. Organizations should also consider implementing additional monitoring and logging mechanisms to detect unauthorized access attempts to sensitive files and history data.