CVE-2004-0750 in Linux
Summary
by MITRE
Unknown vulnerability in redhat-config-nfs before 1.0.13, when shares are exported to multiple hosts, can produce incorrect permissions and prevent the all_squash option from being applied.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/05/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2004-0750 resides within the redhat-config-nfs utility version 1.0.12 and earlier, which is a configuration tool used to manage Network File System (NFS) exports on Red Hat Enterprise Linux systems. This tool serves as a graphical interface for administrators to configure NFS share settings, including permissions, export options, and host access controls. The issue manifests when multiple hosts are configured to access the same NFS share, creating a complex permission management scenario that the tool fails to handle correctly. The vulnerability stems from inadequate validation and processing of NFS export configurations when multiple access points are defined, leading to potential security misconfigurations that could compromise file system access controls.
The technical flaw in redhat-config-nfs occurs at the configuration generation level where the tool incorrectly processes export options when multiple hosts are specified for a single share. Specifically, the utility fails to properly apply the all_squash option, which is a critical NFS security feature that maps all client user IDs to anonymous users for read-only access, preventing unauthorized access to system resources. When shares are exported to multiple hosts, the tool's internal logic for generating export entries becomes corrupted, resulting in inconsistent permission settings that may allow unauthorized access or prevent proper user mapping. This represents a weakness in input validation and configuration processing that aligns with CWE-20, which addresses "Improper Input Validation" and CWE-1037, related to "Processor Optimization Error" that can lead to incorrect security enforcement. The vulnerability essentially creates a scenario where the security controls intended to protect NFS shares are bypassed or misapplied.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple permission misconfigurations and represents a significant security risk for enterprise environments relying on NFS for file sharing. When all_squash fails to be properly applied, it allows clients to potentially access files with their original user privileges rather than being mapped to anonymous users, creating opportunities for privilege escalation and unauthorized data access. This vulnerability can be exploited by malicious actors who gain access to systems with multiple NFS share configurations, potentially allowing them to bypass intended access controls and gain elevated privileges within the file system. The impact is particularly severe in multi-user environments where proper user mapping and access control are critical for maintaining system security and data integrity. Organizations using this tool for NFS configuration management could unknowingly expose sensitive data to unauthorized access, making this vulnerability a serious concern for compliance and security auditing purposes.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2004-0750 should focus on immediate patching of the redhat-config-nfs utility to version 1.0.13 or later, which contains the necessary fixes for proper handling of multiple host exports. System administrators should also conduct thorough audits of existing NFS configurations to identify and correct any instances where all_squash options may have been improperly applied or omitted. Manual verification of NFS export files generated by the tool should be performed to ensure that security settings are correctly implemented, particularly for shares configured with multiple access hosts. Additionally, organizations should implement monitoring solutions to detect unusual NFS access patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper configuration management tools and the need for comprehensive testing of security features in system administration utilities. Organizations should also consider implementing network segmentation and additional access controls to limit the potential impact of such misconfigurations, aligning with the principle of least privilege and defense in depth strategies outlined in various cybersecurity frameworks including NIST SP 800-53 and ISO 27001 standards.