CVE-2007-0336 in Undercover
Summary
by MITRE
Undercover.app/Contents/Resources/uc in Rixstep Undercover allows local users to overwrite arbitrary files, probably related to a race condition.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/04/2017
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2007-0336 resides within the Rixstep Undercover application, specifically in the file Undercover.app/Contents/Resources/uc. This flaw represents a significant security weakness that enables local attackers to manipulate arbitrary files on the system through a race condition mechanism. The vulnerability's classification as a local privilege escalation issue stems from its ability to allow unauthorized file operations that could potentially be exploited to gain elevated system privileges or compromise the integrity of critical system resources.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves a race condition that occurs during file operations within the Undercover application's resource management system. When the application processes or accesses the uc file located in its resources directory, it fails to properly synchronize access to shared resources or validate file operations before executing potentially dangerous overwrite actions. This race condition allows a local attacker to position themselves strategically in the timing sequence to intercept or manipulate file operations, thereby enabling arbitrary file overwrite capabilities that extend beyond the intended scope of the application's normal operation.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability creates substantial risks for systems running the Rixstep Undercover application. Local users who can exploit this condition can potentially overwrite critical system files, configuration files, or even executable components that might be protected by standard file permissions. The implications extend beyond simple file corruption as attackers could leverage this capability to modify system integrity checks, replace legitimate binaries with malicious counterparts, or manipulate application configuration data to achieve persistent access or privilege escalation. This type of vulnerability directly violates the principle of least privilege and undermines the security boundaries typically maintained by operating system file access controls.
The vulnerability demonstrates characteristics consistent with CWE-367, which addresses time-of-check to time-of-use race conditions, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for execution through application shimming. Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including restricting file permissions for the affected application resources, monitoring for unauthorized file access patterns, and applying system hardening measures to prevent local users from gaining the necessary conditions to exploit this race condition. Additionally, the vulnerability highlights the importance of proper input validation and resource synchronization mechanisms in preventing unauthorized file operations. Security teams should also consider implementing file integrity monitoring solutions to detect any unauthorized modifications to critical system files that might result from exploitation attempts. The underlying issue underscores the necessity of thorough security testing for applications handling file operations, particularly those involving privileged system resources.