CVE-2005-3070 in HylaFax
Summary
by MITRE
HylaFax 4.2.1 and earlier does not create or verify ownership of the UNIX domain socket, which might allow local users to read faxes and cause a denial of service by creating the socket using the hyla.unix temporary file.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/10/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2005-3070 affects HylaFax versions 4.2.1 and earlier, presenting a critical security flaw in the fax server implementation that stems from improper handling of UNIX domain socket creation and ownership verification. This issue resides within the core communication mechanisms of the fax system, specifically targeting the temporary file management process that governs socket creation. The flaw allows local attackers to exploit a race condition or privilege escalation path by creating malicious UNIX domain sockets that can interfere with legitimate fax operations. The vulnerability manifests when the fax server fails to properly validate socket ownership during the temporary file creation process, creating an opportunity for unauthorized access to fax data and system resources.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the hyla.unix temporary file mechanism that HylaFax uses for establishing communication channels. When the fax server creates UNIX domain sockets for fax processing, it does not adequately verify that the socket belongs to the legitimate process or user. This oversight enables local attackers to create their own socket files with the same naming convention, effectively intercepting fax communications or causing service disruption. The flaw operates at the system-level communication layer where the fax server expects exclusive ownership of specific socket paths, but the absence of proper ownership verification creates a security boundary failure. The vulnerability specifically relates to CWE-276, which addresses incorrect permissions for critical resources, and CWE-362, which covers race conditions that can lead to privilege escalation.
The operational impact of CVE-2005-3070 extends beyond simple data exposure to encompass potential service disruption and unauthorized access to sensitive fax communications. Local users who exploit this vulnerability can gain access to fax data that would normally be restricted, potentially exposing confidential business communications, personal information, or proprietary documents. The denial of service component of this vulnerability can cause the fax server to become unresponsive or crash, leading to operational downtime and disruption of critical fax services within organizations. This issue particularly affects environments where fax systems handle sensitive information such as medical records, financial documents, or legal correspondence, where unauthorized access could constitute a significant compliance violation. The vulnerability also aligns with ATT&CK technique T1068, which involves local privilege escalation through exploitation of system-level communication mechanisms.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2005-3070 require immediate implementation of proper socket ownership verification mechanisms within the HylaFax system. Organizations should upgrade to HylaFax versions that address this vulnerability, as the original affected versions lack proper security controls for temporary file handling. System administrators should implement proper file permissions and ownership controls for temporary socket files, ensuring that only authorized processes can create or modify these critical communication channels. Additional security measures include implementing proper file system monitoring to detect unauthorized socket creation attempts and establishing regular security audits of fax server configurations. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper resource management in system-level applications and underscores the need for robust access controls in communication protocols. Organizations should also consider implementing network segmentation and monitoring to detect potential exploitation attempts and ensure that fax systems operate within secure, isolated environments.