CVE-2005-0070 in synaesthesia
Summary
by MITRE
synaesthesia 2.1 and earlier and possibly other versions when installed setuid root does not drop privileges before processing configuration and mixer files which allows local users to read arbitrary files.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/21/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2005-0070 affects synaesthesia versions 2.1 and earlier, as well as potentially other versions that are installed with setuid root permissions. This represents a critical privilege escalation issue that stems from improper privilege management during application execution. The flaw occurs when the application runs with elevated root privileges but fails to properly drop these privileges before processing configuration and mixer files, creating a dangerous security condition that can be exploited by local users.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the application maintaining root privileges throughout its execution lifecycle, specifically during the processing of user-controlled input files. When synaesthesia processes configuration and mixer files, it does so with root-level permissions, which allows malicious local users to manipulate these files in ways that can result in arbitrary file reads. This behavior violates fundamental security principles of least privilege and privilege separation, creating an attack surface where unprivileged users can gain access to files that they should not be able to read. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-276, which deals with improper privileges, and represents a classic case of privilege escalation through improper privilege handling.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is significant for systems running affected versions of synaesthesia, as it provides local attackers with the ability to read arbitrary files on the system. This can lead to information disclosure attacks where sensitive files such as configuration data, user credentials, or system files may be accessed by unauthorized users. The attack vector is particularly concerning because it requires only local system access, making it easier to exploit than remote attacks. The vulnerability can be leveraged to extract system information, access user data, or potentially identify other system weaknesses that could be used for further exploitation. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this maps to privilege escalation techniques and credential access capabilities, as local users can effectively bypass normal file access controls.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on immediate privilege management improvements and system hardening measures. The primary solution involves ensuring that the application drops root privileges immediately upon startup, before processing any user-controlled input files. This can be achieved through proper implementation of privilege dropping mechanisms using functions such as setuid and setgid system calls, or by restructuring the application to run with reduced privileges from the beginning. Additionally, system administrators should consider removing the setuid bit from the synaesthesia binary if possible, or implementing proper file access controls that prevent unauthorized file reading. Regular security audits and privilege management reviews should be conducted to ensure similar issues do not occur in other applications. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of following secure coding practices and maintaining proper privilege separation in system applications, particularly those that handle user input and configuration files.