CVE-2002-0296 in Tarantella
Summary
by MITRE
The installation of Tarantella Enterprise 3 allows local users to overwrite arbitrary files via a symlink attack on the "spinning" temporary file.
If you want to get best quality of vulnerability data, you may have to visit VulDB.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/09/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2002-0296 represents a critical file system security flaw within the Tarantella Enterprise 3 software implementation. This issue specifically affects the installation process of the enterprise-level remote desktop solution that was widely used for secure remote access to computing resources. The vulnerability stems from inadequate handling of temporary files during the software installation phase, creating a window of opportunity for malicious local users to manipulate the system's file structure through symbolic link manipulation techniques.
The technical flaw manifests in the installation routine where the Tarantella Enterprise 3 software creates a temporary file named "spinning" without proper validation of the file system state. When a local attacker with access to the system can influence the creation of symbolic links in the temporary directory, they can strategically place a symlink that points to a target file of their choice. During the installation process, when the system attempts to write to the "spinning" temporary file, the symlink causes the installation routine to write data to the attacker-controlled target file instead of the intended temporary location. This represents a classic symlink attack pattern that exploits the trust relationship between the installation process and temporary file handling mechanisms.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple file overwriting capabilities, as it provides local attackers with the means to compromise system integrity and potentially escalate privileges. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to overwrite critical system files, configuration data, or even executable components that could lead to unauthorized access or system compromise. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it operates at the installation level, meaning that successful exploitation could occur during routine system updates or new installations, potentially affecting multiple system components. This type of attack falls under the category of privilege escalation and file system manipulation attacks that are commonly documented in security frameworks.
From a cybersecurity perspective, this vulnerability aligns with CWE-377: Insecure Temporary File creation and CWE-378: Creation of Temporary File With Insecure Permissions, both of which are fundamental security weaknesses in software design. The attack vector demonstrates characteristics consistent with the ATT&CK framework's technique T1059.001 for Command and Scripting Interpreter, where attackers manipulate system processes to execute malicious actions. The vulnerability also relates to T1546.001 for Event Triggered Execution through the exploitation of installation processes that are often executed with elevated privileges. Organizations implementing Tarantella Enterprise 3 should consider this vulnerability as part of their broader security posture assessment, particularly when evaluating legacy software systems that may not receive security updates. The remediation approach typically involves applying vendor patches, implementing proper temporary file handling procedures, and ensuring that installation processes run with minimal necessary privileges to limit the potential impact of such attacks.