CVE-2007-0474 in Smb4K
Summary
by MITRE
Smb4K before 0.8.0 allow local users, when present on the Smb4K sudoers list, to kill arbitrary processes, related to a "design issue with smb4k_kill."
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/15/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2007-0474 resides within Smb4K version 0.8.0 and earlier, representing a significant security flaw that enables local users with sudo privileges to execute arbitrary process termination commands. This issue stems from a fundamental design flaw in the smb4k_kill functionality, which was intended to provide administrative capabilities for managing SMB connections but inadvertently created a dangerous privilege escalation vector. The vulnerability specifically affects systems where Smb4K has been configured with sudo permissions, allowing attackers to leverage these privileges to target processes beyond the intended scope of SMB management operations.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the improper handling of process termination commands within the Smb4K application's sudo execution framework. When a local user possesses sudo access to Smb4K and executes the smb4k_kill command, the system fails to properly validate or restrict the target processes that can be terminated. This design flaw creates a path where malicious actors can specify arbitrary process identifiers, potentially leading to the termination of critical system processes or user applications. The vulnerability operates at the operating system level, exploiting the trust relationship between the sudo configuration and the Smb4K application's process management capabilities.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple process termination, as it represents a serious privilege escalation risk that could compromise system integrity and availability. Attackers with local access and sudo permissions could potentially target critical system processes, causing system instability, service disruption, or even complete system compromise. The vulnerability affects the principle of least privilege, as users can execute commands that exceed their intended administrative scope. This flaw particularly impacts enterprise environments where Smb4K is used for network file sharing management, as it creates an unexpected attack surface that could be exploited by malicious insiders or compromised local accounts.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate attention and systematic implementation across affected systems. The primary recommendation involves updating Smb4K to version 0.8.0 or later, where the design flaw has been addressed through proper input validation and process restriction mechanisms. System administrators should review and audit existing sudo configurations for Smb4K to ensure that only necessary privileges are granted and that process termination capabilities are properly restricted. The implementation of additional security controls such as process monitoring, sudo logging, and regular privilege reviews can help detect and prevent unauthorized process termination activities. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-276, which addresses improper privileges, and maps to ATT&CK technique T1068, which covers privilege escalation through local system permissions, emphasizing the need for comprehensive access control measures and regular security assessments to prevent exploitation of such design-level flaws in system management applications.