CVE-2003-1279 in S-PLUS
Summary
by MITRE
S-PLUS 6.0 allows local users to overwrite arbitrary files and possibly elevate privileges via a symlink attack on (1) /tmp/__F8499 by Sqpe, (2) /tmp/PRINT.$$.out by PRINT, (3) /tmp/SUBST$PID.TXT and /tmp/ed.cmds$PID by mustfix.hlinks, (4) /tmp/file.1 and /tmp/file.2 by sas_get, (5) /tmp/file.1 by sas_vars, and (6) /tmp/sgml2html$$tmp /tmp/sgml2html$$tmp1 /tmp/sgml2html$$tmp2 by sglm2html.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/16/2024
The vulnerability described in CVE-2003-1279 represents a critical symlink attack flaw affecting S-PLUS 6.0 software, a statistical computing environment widely used in data analysis and research. This vulnerability stems from the improper handling of temporary files created in the /tmp directory, which creates a dangerous privilege escalation vector for local attackers. The flaw specifically targets multiple temporary files used by various components of the S-PLUS system, including Sqpe, PRINT, mustfix.hlinks, sas_get, sas_vars, and sglm2html utilities, making it a widespread issue across different subsystems of the software platform. The vulnerability operates under CWE-377, which categorizes insecure temporary file handling as a significant security weakness.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability involves creating symbolic links in the /tmp directory that point to sensitive system files or directories before the vulnerable programs attempt to create their temporary files. When these programs execute and attempt to write to the expected temporary file locations, they inadvertently overwrite or modify critical system resources. This technique allows attackers to manipulate program behavior, potentially leading to privilege escalation from regular user to root level access. The attack is particularly effective because the programs in question are typically run with elevated privileges to perform system-level operations, and the temporary file creation process occurs without proper validation of the file's existence or ownership.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple file overwrites to potentially enable complete system compromise. Attackers can leverage this flaw to replace system binaries, modify configuration files, or inject malicious code into the system, particularly targeting the temporary files used by system utilities and administrative tools. The attack vector is particularly insidious because it requires minimal privileges to execute, as local users can create symbolic links in the /tmp directory. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for command and scripting interpreter, where attackers can manipulate temporary files to execute malicious code, and T1068 for exploit for privilege escalation. The widespread nature of the affected components means that exploitation can occur through multiple attack paths, increasing the overall risk to systems running S-PLUS 6.0.
The recommended mitigations for this vulnerability include implementing proper temporary file creation practices that utilize secure file creation methods such as mkstemp or similar atomic operations that prevent symlink attacks. Systems should also employ proper file permissions and ownership checks before temporary file creation, ensuring that files are not created with predictable names in world-writable directories. Additionally, privilege separation should be implemented to reduce the impact of compromised temporary files, and system administrators should consider using non-standard temporary file locations or implementing proper sandboxing techniques. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of following secure coding practices and implementing proper input validation and file handling mechanisms as outlined in industry standards such as the OWASP Secure Coding Practices and NIST Special Publication 800-128 guidelines for secure temporary file management.