CVE-2004-2698 in IMWheel
Summary
by MITRE
Race condition in IMWheel 1.0.0pre11 and earlier, when running with the -k option, allows local users to cause a denial of service (IMWheel crash) and possibly modify arbitrary files via a symlink attack on the imwheel.pid file.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/07/2024
The vulnerability described in CVE-2004-2698 represents a significant race condition flaw in the IMWheel utility version 1.0.0pre11 and earlier. This issue specifically manifests when the application is executed with the -k command line option, which enables a particular operational mode that exposes the underlying security weakness. The race condition occurs during the handling of the imwheel.pid file, a critical component used for process identification and management within the application's operation. The flaw stems from improper synchronization mechanisms that fail to adequately protect against concurrent access patterns, creating opportunities for malicious exploitation.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves a classic symlink attack vector that exploits the timing window between file existence checks and actual file operations. When IMWheel processes the -k option, it creates or modifies the imwheel.pid file without sufficient protection against symbolic link manipulation by unauthorized users. This race condition allows local attackers to establish a malicious symbolic link pointing to a target file of their choice, then trigger the application to follow this link and modify the intended file. The vulnerability operates at the file system level and demonstrates poor defensive programming practices that violate fundamental security principles. The flaw can be classified under CWE-367, which specifically addresses Time-of-Check to Time-of-Use (TOCTOU) vulnerabilities, where the state of a resource changes between verification and actual use phases.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple denial of service conditions to potentially enable arbitrary file modification, making it particularly dangerous for local attackers. The IMWheel crash resulting from the denial of service represents an immediate availability impact, disrupting legitimate user access to the input method wheel functionality. However, the more concerning aspect involves the potential for privilege escalation or data corruption through the symlink attack mechanism. When local users can manipulate the imwheel.pid file through symbolic link manipulation, they gain the ability to modify files that may be owned by different users or have elevated permissions. This capability can be leveraged to compromise system integrity and potentially establish persistent access points, especially when the IMWheel process runs with elevated privileges. The attack requires local system access but provides significant operational advantages to adversaries who can execute code with the privileges of the running IMWheel process.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability must address both the immediate race condition and the underlying design flaws in the application's file handling mechanisms. The most effective solution involves implementing proper file access controls and atomic operations when creating or modifying the imwheel.pid file. System administrators should ensure that IMWheel is updated to a version that addresses this specific race condition, as the original vulnerable versions lack proper synchronization mechanisms. The implementation of file descriptor-based approaches or using atomic file creation methods can prevent the symlink attack vector from succeeding. Additionally, privilege separation techniques should be employed to minimize the impact of potential exploitation, ensuring that the application does not run with unnecessary elevated privileges. Organizations should also implement monitoring for suspicious file system activities related to the imwheel.pid file and establish proper access controls on the application's configuration directories. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of following secure coding practices and adhering to the principle of least privilege, where applications should not have unnecessary access to system resources that could be exploited through race conditions. This issue aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059 for execution and T1070 for indicator removal, as attackers could use this vulnerability to establish persistence or cover their tracks through file modification operations.