CVE-2006-1183 in installer
Summary
by MITRE
The Ubuntu 5.10 installer does not properly clear passwords from the installer log file (questions.dat), and leaves the log file with world-readable permissions, which allows local users to gain privileges.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/28/2024
The vulnerability described in CVE-2006-1183 represents a critical security flaw in the Ubuntu 5.10 installer that demonstrates poor handling of sensitive information during system installation processes. This issue specifically affects the installer's logging mechanism where password credentials are not adequately sanitized from the installation log file known as questions.dat. The flaw exists at the intersection of improper data handling and insecure file permission management, creating a persistent security risk that extends beyond the installation phase. The installer's failure to properly clear password information from its log files constitutes a fundamental breach of secure coding practices and demonstrates inadequate consideration of information flow security during the system provisioning process.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from the installer's improper memory management and file handling procedures. When users enter password credentials during the Ubuntu installation process, these values are stored in the questions.dat log file without appropriate sanitization mechanisms. The installer fails to overwrite sensitive data with random values or zero out memory locations after processing, leaving clear text password information accessible in the log file. Additionally, the installer assigns world-readable permissions to the questions.dat file, which violates the principle of least privilege and allows any local user to access the file regardless of their security context. This combination of poor data clearing practices and insecure file permissions creates a persistent attack vector that can be exploited by any local user with access to the system.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple credential exposure and represents a significant privilege escalation risk within the local system environment. Local users who can access the questions.dat file gain access to clear text passwords that may have been used for various system components including root accounts, administrative users, or service accounts. This exposure creates opportunities for attackers to escalate privileges and gain unauthorized access to system resources, potentially leading to complete system compromise. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it affects the installation phase of the operating system, meaning that any password entered during installation could be exposed to all local users, not just authorized administrators. This type of vulnerability directly impacts system integrity and confidentiality, as it allows unauthorized access to authentication credentials that should remain protected throughout the system lifecycle.
The security implications of this vulnerability align with several established threat modeling frameworks and attack patterns. From a CWE perspective, this issue relates to CWE-256: "Plaintext Storage of a Password" and CWE-732: "Incorrect Permission Assignment for Critical Resource," demonstrating how multiple security weaknesses can compound to create significant risks. The vulnerability also maps to ATT&CK technique T1003.001: "OS Credential Dumping: LSASS Memory" in scenarios where the exposed passwords could be used to escalate privileges, though the specific mechanism here involves file system access rather than memory dumping. Mitigation strategies should focus on implementing proper secure logging practices, including immediate sanitization of sensitive data from log files, enforcement of restrictive file permissions, and implementation of secure deletion mechanisms. Organizations should ensure that installation logs are not only properly cleared of sensitive information but also maintained with appropriate access controls to prevent unauthorized disclosure of authentication credentials during system installation processes.