CVE-2005-1841 in solaris
Summary
by MITRE
the control for adobe reader 5.0.9 and 5.0.10 on linux solaris hp-ux and aix creates temporary files with the permissions as specified in a user s umask which could allow local users to read pdf documents of that user if the umask allows it.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/07/2019
This vulnerability in Adobe Reader versions 5.0.9 and 5.0.10 across multiple operating systems represents a significant security flaw related to temporary file creation and privilege escalation. The issue stems from the application's failure to properly secure temporary files it generates during processing operations, creating a path for local privilege escalation attacks. When Adobe Reader creates temporary files, it inherits the permissions from the user's umask setting rather than implementing secure default permissions that would prevent unauthorized access. This design flaw allows malicious local users to potentially read sensitive PDF documents that belong to other users on the same system, particularly when the umask settings are configured to permit world-readable or group-readable permissions. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it operates at the file system level and leverages the fundamental principle of least privilege that should normally protect user data from unauthorized access by other local users.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the application's temporary file handling mechanism where it creates temporary files without explicitly setting restrictive permissions. According to CWE-732, this represents an incorrect permission assignment vulnerability where the application fails to properly secure resources that could be accessed by unauthorized users. The flaw specifically relates to the application's use of umask inheritance rather than implementing explicit security controls for temporary file creation. When a user with a permissive umask runs Adobe Reader, any temporary files created during PDF processing will inherit those relaxed permissions, potentially exposing sensitive document content to other users on the system. This type of vulnerability falls under the ATT&CK technique T1074.001 for data staging and T1548.001 for abuse of sudo or other privilege escalation mechanisms, though it operates at a lower level through file system permissions rather than direct privilege escalation.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure to potentially compromise the confidentiality of sensitive documents processed through Adobe Reader. Local users who can observe or access temporary files created by the application may gain unauthorized access to PDF documents containing proprietary information, financial data, personal records, or other sensitive materials. The risk is particularly elevated in multi-user environments where users may have varying levels of access and trust relationships. This vulnerability affects multiple platforms including Linux, Solaris, HP-UX, and AIX, indicating a widespread issue that requires coordinated patching across different operating system families. The exploitation requires local access to the system, making it less critical than remote vulnerabilities, but still represents a serious threat to data confidentiality in shared computing environments. Organizations using Adobe Reader in enterprise settings must consider the implications of this vulnerability for compliance with data protection regulations and information security policies.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on both immediate remediation and long-term security hardening measures. The primary and most effective solution involves applying the official security patches provided by Adobe to update to versions that properly implement secure temporary file creation with restrictive permissions. System administrators should also review and tighten umask settings across the affected systems to ensure that temporary files created by any application inherit restrictive permissions by default. Implementing proper file system permissions and access controls through mechanisms such as SELinux or AppArmor can provide additional layers of protection. Regular security audits should verify that temporary files created by applications do not inadvertently expose sensitive data through overly permissive permissions. Additionally, organizations should consider implementing monitoring solutions to detect unauthorized access attempts to temporary files and establish proper incident response procedures for potential exploitation of this vulnerability. The vulnerability highlights the importance of secure coding practices and proper resource management in application development, particularly for applications that process sensitive user data and create temporary files during operation.