CVE-2005-3341 in DNS package
Summary
by MITRE
DHIS tools DNS package (dhis-tools-dns) before 5.0 allows local users to overwrite arbitrary files via a symlink attack on temporary files created by (1) register-q.sh and (2) register-p.sh.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/04/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2005-3341 affects the DHIS tools DNS package version 5.0 and earlier, presenting a significant security risk through improper temporary file handling mechanisms. This issue resides within the register-q.sh and register-p.sh shell scripts that are part of the dhis-tools-dns utility suite, which is commonly used for managing DNS records within certain network infrastructure deployments. The flaw enables local attackers to exploit a symlink attack pattern that allows them to overwrite arbitrary files on the system, potentially leading to privilege escalation or unauthorized data modification. The vulnerability stems from the insecure creation of temporary files without proper validation of their existence or ownership, creating a window of opportunity for malicious actors to manipulate the system's file structure.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability occurs when the register-q.sh and register-p.sh scripts create temporary files in predictable locations without sufficient security measures to prevent symbolic link attacks. Attackers can create malicious symbolic links in the same directories where these scripts generate temporary files, effectively redirecting the scripts to write data to arbitrary locations on the filesystem. This type of attack falls under the category of insecure temporary file handling, which is classified as CWE-377 and CWE-378 within the Common Weakness Enumeration framework. The vulnerability represents a classic race condition scenario where the timing between file creation and access creates an exploitable window for attackers to substitute legitimate temporary files with malicious ones.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple file overwrites and can potentially enable more severe security consequences within affected systems. Local users who can execute the vulnerable scripts gain the ability to modify critical system files, configuration data, or even overwrite binaries with malicious code, depending on the privileges of the user executing the scripts. This capability can lead to privilege escalation attacks where attackers move from a low-privilege local account to higher-privileged system access. The vulnerability also impacts system integrity and availability, as attackers could potentially corrupt critical DNS configuration files or overwrite essential system components. Organizations using DHIS tools DNS package in production environments face potential data loss, unauthorized access, or service disruption if this vulnerability remains unpatched.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability focus primarily on patching the affected software to version 5.0 or later, where the temporary file handling has been properly secured. System administrators should immediately upgrade to the patched version and verify that no malicious symbolic links exist in the affected directories. Additional defensive measures include implementing proper file permission controls, ensuring that temporary directories are properly secured with restrictive permissions, and conducting regular security audits of script execution environments. The remediation process should also include monitoring for unauthorized file modifications and implementing file integrity checking mechanisms to detect potential exploitation attempts. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to techniques involving privilege escalation and persistence through file system manipulation, making it particularly dangerous in environments where local user access is not properly restricted. Organizations should also consider implementing application whitelisting policies to prevent execution of unauthorized scripts and maintain strict access controls over critical system directories where temporary files are created.