CVE-2004-0231 in Midnight Commander
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple vulnerabilities in Midnight Commander (mc) before 4.6.0, with unknown impact, related to "Insecure temporary file and directory creations."
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/07/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2004-0231 affects Midnight Commander versions prior to 4.6.0 and relates to insecure temporary file and directory creation practices within the application. This issue represents a significant security flaw that could potentially allow attackers to exploit the software's handling of temporary resources. The vulnerability stems from the application's failure to properly secure temporary file and directory creation processes, creating opportunities for privilege escalation and arbitrary code execution. Such insecure temporary file handling is particularly dangerous in multi-user environments where different users may attempt to manipulate shared temporary resources. The flaw exists in the core file management operations of Midnight Commander, which is widely used as a file manager in Unix-like systems and serves as a critical component in many desktop environments and server configurations.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the application's use of predictable naming schemes for temporary files and directories, combined with insufficient permission controls during creation. When Midnight Commander creates temporary resources, it often uses default system temporary directories such as /tmp or /var/tmp without properly setting restrictive permissions or using secure randomization techniques. This insecure practice allows malicious users to create symbolic links or place malicious files in these temporary locations before the application attempts to create its own temporary resources. The flaw aligns with CWE-377, which specifically addresses insecure temporary file creation practices, and represents a classic example of a race condition vulnerability where the timing between file creation and access can be exploited by attackers. The vulnerability also relates to CWE-379, which focuses on the creation of temporary files and directories with insecure permissions, making it particularly dangerous in environments where the application runs with elevated privileges.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple privilege escalation scenarios to encompass potential data integrity compromise and system availability issues. Attackers could leverage this vulnerability to inject malicious code into temporary files that the application subsequently executes, leading to unauthorized access to system resources or data manipulation. In server environments where Midnight Commander might be used by multiple users, this vulnerability could enable attackers to gain elevated privileges or access sensitive files that would normally be protected. The vulnerability's exploitation potential is heightened in environments where the application runs with root privileges or where temporary files are created with overly permissive access controls. This flaw directly impacts the principle of least privilege and could be leveraged as part of broader attack chains in multi-stage exploitation campaigns, particularly when combined with other vulnerabilities in the system.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate software updates to versions 4.6.0 or later where the insecure temporary file creation practices have been addressed. System administrators should ensure that all instances of Midnight Commander are updated to patched versions and that temporary file handling mechanisms are properly configured with appropriate permissions and security controls. The recommended approach involves implementing secure temporary file creation practices that include using unique, random naming schemes, setting restrictive file permissions during creation, and ensuring that temporary resources are created in secure locations with appropriate access controls. Organizations should also consider implementing additional monitoring and logging of temporary file operations to detect potential exploitation attempts. This vulnerability demonstrates the importance of following secure coding practices and adheres to ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for execution through command-line interface, where the exploitation might occur through command execution in compromised temporary files. Regular security audits of file management operations and temporary file handling practices should be conducted to prevent similar vulnerabilities from emerging in other software components.