CVE-2004-1452 in Tomcat
Summary
by MITRE
Tomcat before 5.0.27-r3 in Gentoo Linux sets the default permissions on the init scripts as tomcat:tomcat, but executes the scripts with root privileges, which could allow local users in the tomcat group to execute arbitrary commands as root by modifying the scripts.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/15/2019
The vulnerability described in CVE-2004-1452 represents a critical privilege escalation flaw in the Tomcat web server implementation within Gentoo Linux distributions. This issue stems from a fundamental misconfiguration in the default installation process where the init scripts are created with group ownership assigned to the tomcat user but are executed with root privileges. The discrepancy between file permissions and execution context creates a dangerous attack surface that directly violates the principle of least privilege. The vulnerability specifically affects Tomcat versions prior to 5.0.27-r3, indicating this was a known issue that required patching within the Gentoo package management system. This misconfiguration allows local users who belong to the tomcat group to manipulate the init scripts and subsequently execute arbitrary commands with elevated root privileges.
The technical flaw manifests through a classic privilege escalation vector where the system's security model is compromised by inconsistent permission handling between file ownership and execution context. When init scripts are created with tomcat:tomcat ownership but executed as root, any member of the tomcat group can modify these scripts to include malicious code. This creates a scenario where legitimate system administration scripts become attack vectors for privilege elevation. The vulnerability directly maps to CWE-276, which addresses improper file permissions, and more specifically to CWE-269, which deals with insufficient privileges for critical resources. The flaw exploits the fundamental security principle that processes should run with the minimum privileges necessary for their operation, a concept that is violated when root privileges are unnecessarily granted to scripts that should remain restricted to specific user groups.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple privilege escalation to encompass complete system compromise. Local users with tomcat group membership can leverage this flaw to gain root access without requiring additional authentication mechanisms or exploiting other system weaknesses. This represents a serious security risk for systems running vulnerable Tomcat installations, particularly in multi-user environments where the tomcat group might contain users with varying levels of trust. The attack requires minimal technical expertise since it exploits a configuration error rather than a complex software bug, making it particularly dangerous for production environments. The vulnerability also demonstrates poor security hygiene in package management and system configuration, as it indicates that security considerations were not properly implemented during the software packaging process. Organizations running affected systems face potential data breaches, system compromise, and unauthorized access to sensitive resources.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability must address both the immediate configuration issue and broader security practices. The most direct solution involves upgrading to Tomcat version 5.0.27-r3 or later where the package maintainers have corrected the permission handling in the init scripts. System administrators should verify that init scripts are properly owned by root with restrictive permissions and that execution contexts are consistent with file ownership. Additional measures include implementing proper access controls to prevent unauthorized modifications to critical system files, regularly auditing file permissions and ownership, and ensuring that package management systems properly enforce security configurations. Organizations should also consider implementing monitoring solutions to detect unauthorized modifications to system scripts and establish regular security assessments to identify similar misconfigurations. The remediation process should include comprehensive testing to ensure that the corrected package installation maintains proper functionality while eliminating the privilege escalation vector. This vulnerability underscores the importance of maintaining security-conscious configuration practices throughout the software lifecycle and demonstrates how seemingly minor configuration errors can create significant security risks.