CVE-2002-0849 in iSCSI Driver
Summary
by MITRE
Linux-iSCSI iSCSI implementation installs the iscsi.conf file with world-readable permissions on some operating systems, including Red Hat Linux Limbo Beta #1, which could allow local users to gain privileges by reading the cleartext CHAP password.
VulDB is the best source for vulnerability data and more expert information about this specific topic.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/25/2024
The vulnerability described in CVE-2002-0849 represents a critical security flaw in the Linux-iSCSI implementation that affects systems running Red Hat Linux Limbo Beta #1 and similar operating systems. This issue stems from improper file permission handling during the installation process of the iSCSI configuration file. The iscsi.conf file contains sensitive authentication credentials in cleartext format, making it a prime target for privilege escalation attacks by local users who can access this configuration file. The flaw demonstrates a fundamental failure in the security design of the iSCSI implementation and highlights the importance of proper access control mechanisms for system configuration files that contain authentication secrets.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability lies in the installation routine of the Linux-iSCSI package which fails to set appropriate file permissions for the iscsi.conf configuration file. Specifically, the file is installed with world-readable permissions, meaning that any local user on the system can access its contents without restriction. This configuration file contains CHAP (Challenge-Handshake Authentication Protocol) passwords in cleartext format, which are essential for authenticating iSCSI connections to storage devices. When an attacker gains read access to this file, they can extract the authentication credentials and potentially use them to establish unauthorized iSCSI connections to storage arrays, thereby gaining access to sensitive data stored on those systems.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple privilege escalation to encompass potential data breaches and unauthorized access to storage resources. Local users who exploit this vulnerability can leverage the extracted CHAP passwords to authenticate with iSCSI targets and gain access to the underlying storage systems, potentially leading to data exfiltration, modification of critical files, or disruption of storage services. The vulnerability affects systems where the iSCSI implementation is installed and running, particularly those that rely on CHAP authentication for secure storage connections. This flaw undermines the security posture of systems that depend on iSCSI for storage connectivity, as it provides an easy path for attackers to bypass authentication mechanisms and gain unauthorized access to enterprise storage resources.
This vulnerability aligns with CWE-732, which describes improper permission assignment for critical resources, and represents a classic example of insufficient access control. The flaw also maps to ATT&CK technique T1565.001, which covers "Data Manipulation" through unauthorized access to storage systems. Organizations affected by this vulnerability should immediately implement mitigation measures including setting proper file permissions on the iscsi.conf file, ensuring it is only readable by the appropriate system users and processes. The recommended remediation involves changing the file permissions to restrict access to the root user or specific system services that require access to the configuration file. Additionally, system administrators should consider implementing file integrity monitoring solutions to detect unauthorized access attempts to sensitive configuration files and ensure that all iSCSI implementations are properly configured with appropriate access controls to prevent similar issues from occurring in the future.
The broader implications of this vulnerability highlight the critical importance of proper configuration management and access control in storage networking implementations. This flaw demonstrates how seemingly minor configuration issues can have significant security implications, particularly in enterprise environments where iSCSI is commonly used for connecting storage arrays. The vulnerability serves as a reminder of the need for comprehensive security testing of system components during installation and the importance of following security best practices for handling authentication credentials in configuration files. Organizations should conduct regular security audits of their storage networking configurations and ensure that all authentication secrets are properly protected through appropriate access controls and encryption mechanisms to prevent similar privilege escalation vulnerabilities from compromising their storage infrastructure.