CVE-2001-1102 in Firewall-1
Summary
by MITRE
Check Point FireWall-1 3.0b through 4.1 for Solaris allows local users to overwrite arbitrary files via a symlink attack on temporary policy files that end in a .cpp extension, which are set world-writable.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/04/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2001-1102 affects Check Point FireWall-1 versions 3.0b through 4.1 running on Solaris operating systems. This represents a critical security flaw that stems from improper handling of temporary policy files during the software's operation. The vulnerability specifically targets the way the firewall software manages temporary files with the .cpp extension, creating a dangerous condition that can be exploited by local users to gain unauthorized file system access.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves a classic symlink attack pattern where malicious local users can manipulate the file system to create symbolic links that point to sensitive system files. The flaw occurs because the temporary policy files are created with world-writable permissions, allowing any local user to modify or replace these files. When the firewall software processes these temporary files, it follows the symbolic links and writes data to the target files that the attacker intends to overwrite, rather than the intended temporary file location. This represents a direct violation of the principle of least privilege and proper file access controls.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple file overwriting capabilities. Attackers can leverage this weakness to modify critical system files, potentially compromising the integrity of the entire firewall configuration and the underlying operating system. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it requires minimal privileges to exploit, as local users already have access to the system. This attack vector can be used to escalate privileges, corrupt system configurations, or even install malicious code that persists across system reboots. The attack can be executed without requiring network access or special administrative credentials, making it a particularly insidious threat to network security infrastructure.
This vulnerability maps directly to CWE-59, which describes improper link resolution without limiting the scope of the link, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059 for executing malicious code through file system manipulation. The attack pattern demonstrates how insufficient input validation and improper file handling can create persistent security weaknesses in enterprise security tools. Organizations using affected versions of Check Point FireWall-1 should immediately implement mitigations including restricting write permissions on temporary directories, implementing proper file access controls, and applying vendor patches. The vulnerability highlights the critical importance of proper file system management in security-critical applications and serves as a reminder of the need for robust input validation and privilege separation mechanisms in network security infrastructure.