CVE-2002-0658 in mm Library
Summary
by MITRE
OSSP mm library (libmm) before 1.2.0 allows the local Apache user to gain privileges via temporary files, possibly via a symbolic link attack.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/14/2025
The OSSP mm library vulnerability identified as CVE-2002-0658 represents a critical privilege escalation flaw affecting versions prior to 1.2.0. This vulnerability specifically targets the library's handling of temporary files during its operation, creating an exploitable condition that allows local users with Apache privileges to escalate their access rights. The flaw stems from inadequate security measures in the library's temporary file creation and management processes, which can be manipulated through symbolic link attacks to gain elevated system privileges.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the library's improper handling of temporary file creation mechanisms, where it fails to validate the existence and ownership of temporary files before using them. This weakness creates a race condition scenario where an attacker can establish symbolic links with specific names that the library will subsequently access, potentially redirecting file operations to arbitrary locations. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it operates at the library level, meaning that any application using libmm could be affected, including web servers like Apache that might utilize this library for various operations.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability has significant implications for system security and integrity, especially in environments where Apache web servers run with elevated privileges. The attack vector requires local access to the system but can result in complete system compromise, as the local Apache user can leverage this flaw to gain root or administrative privileges. This type of vulnerability falls under the CWE-377 weakness category, specifically addressing insecure temporary file handling, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1068 which covers privilege escalation through local exploitation.
The impact of this vulnerability extends beyond immediate privilege escalation, as successful exploitation can enable attackers to modify system files, install malicious software, or establish persistent access mechanisms. The flaw demonstrates the importance of proper file system security controls and the necessity of validating temporary file operations. Organizations running affected versions of the OSSP mm library should prioritize immediate remediation through patching or upgrading to version 1.2.0 or later, while also implementing additional security controls such as restricting temporary file creation permissions and monitoring for suspicious symbolic link activity. The vulnerability also highlights the broader security principle that libraries and system components must properly validate all file operations to prevent attackers from manipulating file system access patterns.