CVE-2002-2199 in AIDE
Summary
by MITRE
The default aide.conf file in Advanced Intrusion Detection Environment (AIDE) before 0.7_1 on FreeBSD before 2002-08-28 does not properly check subdirectories, which could allow local users to bypass detection.
If you want to get best quality of vulnerability data, you may have to visit VulDB.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/12/2024
The Advanced Intrusion Detection Environment AIDE vulnerability described in CVE-2002-2199 represents a significant security flaw in file integrity monitoring systems that persisted through the early 2000s. This issue affected FreeBSD systems running AIDE versions prior to 0.7_1, specifically before the critical patch release on August 28, 2002. The vulnerability stems from inadequate directory traversal validation within the default aide.conf configuration file, creating a fundamental weakness in the system's ability to detect unauthorized modifications to critical system files. The flaw specifically manifests when the system processes subdirectories during file integrity checks, allowing malicious actors to exploit this oversight to circumvent security monitoring mechanisms.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability lies in how AIDE's default configuration handles recursive directory scanning operations. When the system processes directory structures, it fails to properly validate or restrict access to subdirectories, creating a path traversal condition that enables local users to manipulate the monitoring process. This weakness operates at the configuration parsing level where directory inclusion patterns are evaluated, allowing attackers to either hide files from monitoring or create false positives that could obscure actual security incidents. The issue directly relates to CWE-22 Path Traversal and CWE-36 Path Traversal, as it involves improper handling of directory references during system integrity checks. From an operational perspective, this vulnerability undermines the core purpose of file integrity monitoring by providing attackers with a method to evade detection mechanisms that are specifically designed to identify unauthorized system modifications.
The impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple evasion of file monitoring systems. Local users with access to the system can exploit this flaw to maintain persistent access while remaining undetected by the integrity checking mechanisms they would normally trigger. This creates a dangerous scenario where malicious modifications can occur without alerting system administrators to potential compromise. The vulnerability operates under the MITRE ATT&CK framework as a privilege escalation technique, specifically related to persistence mechanisms and defense evasion tactics. Attackers can leverage this weakness to establish backdoors or modify critical system files while bypassing the very security controls designed to detect such activities. The flaw particularly affects systems where AIDE is configured to monitor sensitive directories such as /usr/bin, /etc, or other system-critical locations where the default configuration fails to properly enforce access restrictions during recursive directory traversal.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2002-2199 require immediate system updates to AIDE version 0.7_1 or later, which includes proper subdirectory validation and enhanced path traversal handling. System administrators should also implement manual configuration reviews to ensure that aide.conf files properly define directory inclusion patterns with appropriate access controls. The recommended approach involves implementing strict directory permissions and ensuring that monitoring configurations explicitly define which directories should be included in integrity checks while preventing unauthorized traversal of system paths. Additionally, organizations should consider implementing additional monitoring layers such as auditd or other integrity checking mechanisms to provide redundancy in case primary monitoring systems fail due to configuration weaknesses. Security teams should also establish regular configuration audits to identify and remediate similar path traversal vulnerabilities in other system monitoring tools that may exhibit similar behaviors during directory processing operations.