CVE-2005-1627 in viewglob
Summary
by MITRE
unknown vulnerability in viewglob before 2.0.1 related to "a potential security issue with the viewglob display and ssh x forwarding" has unknown impact.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/09/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2005-1627 relates to a security issue within the viewglob utility version 2.0.0 and earlier, specifically concerning the interaction between viewglob display functionality and ssh x forwarding mechanisms. This flaw represents a potential security weakness that could be exploited to compromise systems utilizing these components. The vulnerability was discovered in the context of remote desktop and graphical application forwarding through secure shell connections, where the viewglob utility serves as a display management tool for remote X11 applications.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from improper handling of display parameters and security contexts when viewglob processes X11 forwarding requests through ssh connections. The issue likely involves inadequate input validation or insufficient access controls during the display forwarding process, potentially allowing unauthorized users to manipulate display parameters or gain elevated privileges. This type of vulnerability falls under the category of improper access control and privilege escalation, which are commonly classified under CWE-284 for improper access control and CWE-276 for incorrect permissions. The vulnerability specifically affects the interaction between the ssh client and the viewglob utility, where the display forwarding mechanism may not properly validate or sanitize the X11 display information passed through the secure shell connection.
The operational impact of CVE-2005-1627 extends to environments where remote desktop access and graphical application forwarding are commonly used, particularly in enterprise networks and development environments. An attacker exploiting this vulnerability could potentially gain unauthorized access to graphical interfaces, manipulate display parameters, or escalate privileges within the system. The security implications are particularly concerning in multi-user environments where ssh x forwarding is frequently used, as it could allow one user to interfere with another user's graphical sessions or potentially access sensitive graphical applications. This vulnerability aligns with attack patterns described in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under techniques related to privilege escalation and lateral movement through secure shell connections.
The recommended mitigation strategy involves upgrading to viewglob version 2.0.1 or later, which contains the necessary security patches to address the display handling and ssh x forwarding issues. System administrators should also implement additional security measures such as restricting ssh x forwarding capabilities where possible, implementing proper access controls for display parameters, and monitoring for unusual display forwarding activities. Network segmentation and the use of jump hosts can help limit the potential impact of such vulnerabilities. Organizations should also consider implementing proper audit logging for ssh connections and display forwarding activities to detect potential exploitation attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of maintaining up-to-date security software and the risks associated with legacy components in secure shell environments, particularly those handling graphical display forwarding mechanisms.