CVE-2005-1065 in Linux Desktop
Summary
by MITRE
tetex in Novell Linux Desktop 9 allows local users to determine the existence of arbitrary files via a symlink attack in the /var/cache/fonts directory.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/22/2017
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2005-1065 affects tetex software distributed with Novell Linux Desktop 9, representing a significant security flaw that enables local attackers to exploit file system permissions through symbolic link manipulation. This issue stems from improper handling of symbolic links within the font caching directory structure, specifically the /var/cache/fonts path where font files are processed and cached. The vulnerability operates by allowing an attacker to create malicious symbolic links that can be traversed by the tetex font processing utilities, potentially exposing sensitive file system information to unauthorized local users.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the manipulation of symbolic links within the designated font cache directory, where tetex processes font files and generates cached versions for faster rendering. When the system processes fonts through the cache directory, it fails to properly validate or sanitize symbolic links, allowing an attacker to create a symlink pointing to a target file or directory that should normally be restricted or inaccessible. This creates a path traversal scenario where the font processing utilities follow the symbolic link and potentially reveal information about the target file or directory structure, effectively bypassing normal file system access controls and exposing system information that should remain protected.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability represents a local privilege escalation vector that can be exploited by any user with access to the system, as it does not require network connectivity or remote exploitation capabilities. The attack surface is particularly concerning because it allows for information disclosure attacks that could reveal sensitive system paths, file permissions, or potentially expose other system vulnerabilities that might be leveraged in combination with this flaw. The vulnerability affects the fundamental security assumptions of file system access controls within the font processing subsystem, potentially enabling attackers to gather intelligence about system configuration and file structures that could be used for further exploitation attempts.
The security implications of CVE-2005-1065 align with CWE-367, which addresses the issue of Time-of-Check to Time-of-Use (TOCTOU) vulnerabilities, where the system's behavior changes between the time of a security check and the actual operation. This vulnerability also maps to ATT&CK technique T1083, which covers the discovery of file and directory permissions, as attackers can use this flaw to enumerate system resources that should normally be protected. The vulnerability demonstrates a classic lack of proper input validation and path resolution within the font processing utilities, where symbolic link resolution occurs without adequate security checks. Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including restricting write access to the font cache directory, implementing proper symbolic link validation within the font processing utilities, and ensuring that all font processing operations properly sanitize input paths. Additionally, system administrators should monitor for unauthorized symbolic link creation in critical directories and consider implementing file system access controls that prevent local users from creating potentially malicious symbolic links within system cache directories.
This vulnerability underscores the importance of proper privilege separation and input validation in system utilities, particularly those handling user-supplied or system-generated content. The flaw demonstrates how seemingly innocuous system utilities can become attack vectors when proper security measures are not implemented during development. Organizations should conduct comprehensive security reviews of their font processing and caching utilities to identify similar path traversal vulnerabilities, and implement proper sandboxing mechanisms that prevent symbolic link traversal in critical system directories. The remediation approach should focus on ensuring that all file system operations within the font processing pipeline properly validate and sanitize all path inputs, implementing proper access controls that prevent unauthorized symbolic link creation, and establishing monitoring procedures to detect suspicious file system activities in cache directories.