CVE-2005-0387 in remstats
Summary
by MITRE
remstats 1.0.13 and earlier, when processing uptime data, allows local users to create or overwrite arbitrary files via a symlink attack on temporary files.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/31/2019
The vulnerability described in CVE-2005-0387 affects remstats version 1.0.13 and earlier, specifically when processing uptime data. This represents a classic symlink attack or race condition vulnerability that exploits improper handling of temporary files in a local privilege escalation scenario. The flaw occurs within the remstats utility which is commonly used for monitoring system uptime and statistics, making it a potentially critical component in system administration tools.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from the insecure creation of temporary files during uptime data processing operations. When remstats handles uptime information, it creates temporary files without proper security checks or atomic operations. Local users can exploit this by creating symbolic links in strategic locations that the application will subsequently overwrite or create, effectively allowing arbitrary file creation or modification with the privileges of the remstats process. This attack vector operates under the principle of time-of-check to time-of-use vulnerabilities where the application checks for file existence and then uses the file without revalidation.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple file manipulation as it can potentially enable privilege escalation attacks. An attacker with local access can leverage this flaw to overwrite critical system files, create malicious files in sensitive directories, or even inject malicious code that will execute with elevated privileges. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it requires minimal privileges to exploit and can be used to gain persistent access to systems running vulnerable versions of remstats. This type of vulnerability is classified under CWE-377 as insecure temporary file creation and CWE-378 as creation of temporary files with insecure permissions, both of which are fundamental security weaknesses in system utilities.
From a threat modeling perspective, this vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059 for command and script injection, as attackers can use the file overwrite capability to place malicious payloads in system locations. The attack pattern also relates to T1548.001 for abuse of sudo or other privilege escalation mechanisms, as the vulnerability can be used to gain higher privileges through file system manipulation. The exploitation typically requires local access but can be particularly damaging in multi-user environments where attackers might be able to compromise system integrity through careful manipulation of temporary file creation processes.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2005-0387 should focus on immediate patching of affected remstats versions to 1.0.14 or later, which contains proper temporary file handling mechanisms. Organizations should implement proper file permission controls and ensure that temporary file creation operations use atomic methods that prevent symbolic link attacks. The principle of least privilege should be enforced when running remstats utilities, and system administrators should regularly audit temporary file locations for insecure symbolic link configurations. Additionally, implementing proper input validation and ensuring that all temporary file operations use secure methods such as creating files with exclusive access modes or using secure temporary file creation functions can prevent exploitation of similar vulnerabilities. Network segmentation and monitoring for unusual file creation patterns can also provide early detection of potential exploitation attempts.