CVE-2003-0656 in eroaster
Summary
by MITRE
eroaster before 2.2.0 allows local users to overwrite arbitrary files via a symlink attack on a temporary file that is used as a lockfile.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/21/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2003-0656 affects the eroaster software version 2.2.0 and earlier, presenting a significant security risk through improper handling of temporary files during the lockfile creation process. This flaw enables local attackers to exploit a symbolic link attack that can result in arbitrary file overwrites, potentially compromising system integrity and confidentiality. The issue stems from the software's failure to properly validate temporary file creation methods, creating an exploitable condition that adversaries can leverage for privilege escalation or data manipulation.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the creation of a temporary file that serves as a lockfile mechanism within the eroaster application. When the software generates this temporary file, it does not adequately verify the file's existence or validate its path before proceeding with operations. Attackers can create a symbolic link with the same name as the temporary file in a location accessible to them, effectively tricking the application into writing to a file of their choosing rather than the intended temporary location. This type of attack falls under the category of time-of-check to time-of-use race conditions, where the application's behavior changes between the moment it checks for file existence and when it actually operates on the file.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents a serious threat to systems running affected versions of eroaster, as local users can potentially overwrite critical system files, configuration data, or sensitive user information. The impact extends beyond simple file corruption, as attackers might overwrite executable files, system libraries, or authentication-related data, leading to potential privilege escalation or complete system compromise. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it requires minimal privileges to exploit, as local access is sufficient to create symbolic links and manipulate the temporary file creation process.
The flaw aligns with CWE-367, which describes Time-of-Check to Time-of-Use (TOCTOU) race conditions, and represents a classic example of insecure temporary file handling practices. From an adversarial perspective, this vulnerability maps to several ATT&CK techniques including privilege escalation through file system manipulation and persistence mechanisms. Security practitioners should note that this issue demonstrates the importance of proper file system validation and the necessity of implementing secure temporary file creation methods that prevent attackers from manipulating file paths through symbolic link attacks.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability include immediate upgrading to eroaster version 2.2.0 or later, which contains the necessary patches to address the symbolic link attack surface. System administrators should also implement proper file system permissions and access controls to limit the ability of local users to create symbolic links in critical directories. Additional protective measures include implementing file system monitoring to detect unauthorized symbolic link creation and ensuring that temporary file creation follows secure patterns such as creating files with unique names and proper permissions. Organizations should also conduct regular security assessments to identify similar vulnerabilities in other applications and systems that may be susceptible to the same class of attacks.