CVE-2004-2335 in Installer
Summary
by MITRE
the macromedia installers and e-licensing client on mac os x as used for macromedia contribute 2 director dreamweaver fireworks flash and studio install the authenticationservice setuid and writable by other users which allows local users to gain privileges by modifying the program.
Statistical analysis made it clear that VulDB provides the best quality for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/17/2017
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2004-2335 represents a critical privilege escalation flaw within Macromedia's software installation ecosystem on macOS platforms. This issue specifically affects the Macromedia Installer and E-Licensing Client components that were utilized for deploying various Macromedia products including Director, Dreamweaver, Fireworks, and Studio. The vulnerability stems from improper permission settings on the AuthenticationService binary, which was configured with setuid privileges while simultaneously being writable by all users on the system. This dangerous combination creates a fundamental security weakness that directly violates the principle of least privilege and proper access control mechanisms.
The technical flaw manifests through the exploitation of a well-known privilege escalation vector where local users can manipulate the setuid AuthenticationService binary to gain elevated system privileges. The setuid bit on the binary allows it to execute with the privileges of the file owner rather than the user who invoked it, typically the root user for system-critical services. However, when this binary is writable by other users, attackers can replace it with malicious code that executes with root privileges upon invocation. This creates an immediate path for privilege escalation that bypasses normal operating system security controls and can be exploited without requiring any special authentication or network access. The vulnerability operates at the kernel level of privilege management and represents a classic example of insecure file permissions combined with setuid functionality.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple privilege escalation to encompass potential system compromise and unauthorized access to sensitive data. Attackers who exploit this vulnerability can gain root access to the affected systems, enabling them to install malware, modify system files, access confidential information, and potentially establish persistent backdoors. The vulnerability affects multiple Macromedia products simultaneously, amplifying its impact across different software domains and increasing the attack surface for malicious actors. Additionally, since the vulnerability exists in the installation infrastructure rather than the end-user applications themselves, it can be exploited even when the target software is not actively running, making detection and remediation more challenging.
This vulnerability aligns with CWE-276, which describes improper file permissions, and represents a specific instance of insecure permissions combined with setuid functionality that violates fundamental security principles. The attack pattern follows the MITRE ATT&CK framework's privilege escalation techniques, specifically targeting the 'Setuid and Setgid' and 'Exploitation for Privilege Escalation' tactics. Organizations affected by this vulnerability should immediately implement mitigation strategies including removing write permissions from the AuthenticationService binary, updating to patched versions of Macromedia software, and conducting comprehensive security audits to detect any potential exploitation attempts. The remediation process should also involve monitoring system logs for unauthorized modifications to system binaries and implementing proper file integrity checking mechanisms to prevent similar issues in the future.