CVE-2005-2449 in sandbox
Summary
by MITRE
Race condition in sandbox before 1.2.11 allows local users to create or overwrite arbitrary files via symlink attack on sandboxpids.tmp.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/08/2019
The vulnerability described in CVE-2005-2449 represents a critical race condition flaw within the sandbox implementation of a software system prior to version 1.2.11. This issue arises from improper handling of temporary file creation processes within the sandbox environment, creating a window of opportunity for malicious local users to exploit the system through symbolic link attacks. The vulnerability specifically targets the sandboxpids.tmp file, which serves as a temporary storage mechanism for process identifiers within the sandboxed execution environment.
The technical exploitation of this race condition occurs when a local attacker creates a symbolic link with the name sandboxpids.tmp in a strategic location before the legitimate process attempts to create or modify this temporary file. During the brief window between when the system checks for the existence of the file and when it actually creates or writes to it, the attacker can manipulate the file path through the symbolic link to redirect operations to arbitrary locations on the filesystem. This allows the attacker to either create new files with predetermined content or overwrite existing files with malicious data, effectively bypassing the sandbox security controls that are designed to isolate potentially harmful processes from the underlying system.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability significantly undermines the security model of the sandboxed environment, as it enables local privilege escalation and arbitrary file manipulation. The attack requires only local system access and knowledge of the specific temporary file name, making it particularly dangerous in multi-user environments where unprivileged users might exploit this weakness to gain elevated privileges or compromise system integrity. The impact extends beyond simple file manipulation, as attackers could potentially overwrite critical system files, configuration data, or even executables, leading to system instability or complete compromise.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-367, which identifies Time-of-Check to Time-of-Use (TOCTOU) race conditions as a significant security flaw in software systems. This classification emphasizes that the weakness occurs when a system performs a check on a resource and then uses that resource without revalidating the check, creating a window for manipulation. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this as a privilege escalation technique under the T1068 category, as local users can exploit this condition to gain unauthorized access to system resources. The vulnerability also relates to T1548.001, which covers abuse of sudo privileges, as the successful exploitation could potentially enable attackers to escalate their privileges beyond the initial sandboxed environment.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate patching of the software to version 1.2.11 or later, where the race condition has been addressed through proper file creation atomicity mechanisms. Organizations should implement proper file access controls and permissions for temporary directories to limit the scope of potential damage from such attacks. Additionally, system administrators should monitor for suspicious file creation patterns and implement proper logging of temporary file operations. The use of secure temporary file creation functions that avoid the check-create-use pattern, such as creating files with exclusive access flags or using proper atomic operations, provides a robust defense against similar race condition vulnerabilities. Regular security audits and vulnerability assessments should be conducted to identify and remediate similar weaknesses in other software components that may be susceptible to time-of-check to time-of-use attacks.