CVE-2005-0866 in cdrecord
Summary
by MITRE
cdrecord before 4:2.0, when DEBUG is enabled, allows local users to overwrite arbitrary files via a symlink attack on temporary files.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/31/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2005-0866 represents a critical privilege escalation and file overwrite flaw within the cdrecord utility version 2.0 and earlier. This issue specifically manifests when the DEBUG compilation flag is enabled, creating a dangerous condition that allows local attackers to manipulate temporary files through symbolic link attacks. The vulnerability stems from insufficient validation of temporary file creation processes, particularly when the application operates with elevated privileges during debugging operations. When cdrecord is compiled with debugging enabled, it creates temporary files in predictable locations without proper security checks, making these files susceptible to exploitation through symlink manipulation techniques.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through a well-known attack pattern involving symbolic link manipulation. Attackers can create malicious symbolic links in directories where cdrecord generates temporary files, effectively redirecting the application's write operations to arbitrary locations on the filesystem. This occurs because the debugging functionality does not properly verify the integrity of temporary files before writing to them, allowing attackers to replace legitimate temporary files with symbolic links pointing to sensitive system files or configuration files. The flaw exists in the application's file handling routines where temporary file creation does not employ proper atomic operations or security checks to prevent such attacks. This vulnerability directly maps to CWE-377: Insecure Temporary File and CWE-378: Creation of Temporary File With Insecure Permissions, both of which are fundamental security weaknesses in software development practices.
The operational impact of CVE-2005-0866 extends beyond simple file overwrites to potentially enable privilege escalation and system compromise. When cdrecord executes with elevated privileges during debugging, successful exploitation can result in attackers gaining write access to critical system files, configuration directories, or even system binaries. The vulnerability affects systems where cdrecord is installed with debugging capabilities enabled, which often occurs in development environments or when administrators enable debugging for troubleshooting purposes. This creates a persistent security risk since the debugging features are typically not disabled in production environments, leaving systems vulnerable to exploitation. The attack vector is particularly concerning because it requires minimal privileges to execute, making it accessible to any local user who can create symbolic links, which is a fundamental capability on most unix-like systems.
From a threat modeling perspective, this vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.001 for command and script interpreter execution, and T1078.004 for valid accounts, since exploitation typically requires only local access and leverages existing system capabilities. The vulnerability also relates to T1548.001 for abuse of privileges, as it enables attackers to escalate their privileges through file system manipulation. Organizations should consider this vulnerability as part of their broader security posture assessment, particularly in environments where cdrecord or similar optical burning utilities are present. The recommended mitigations include disabling debugging features in production environments, ensuring proper temporary file handling through secure file creation methods, and implementing strict file system permissions for temporary directories. Additionally, system administrators should conduct regular audits to identify installations with debugging capabilities enabled and disable them unless explicitly required for development or diagnostic purposes. The vulnerability highlights the importance of secure coding practices around temporary file creation and the necessity of validating file operations even in debugging contexts.