CVE-2007-1588 in MyServer
Summary
by MITRE
server.cpp in MyServer 0.8.5 calls Process::setuid before calling Process::setgid and thus does not properly drop privileges, which might allow remote attackers to execute CGI programs with unintended privileges.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/27/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2007-1588 resides within the MyServer 0.8.5 web server implementation where the server.cpp component demonstrates improper privilege handling during the process initialization phase. This flaw specifically manifests in the sequence of privilege dropping operations where the Process::setuid function is invoked before Process::setgid, creating a window of opportunity for privilege escalation attacks. The vulnerability stems from a fundamental misunderstanding of Unix privilege management principles where the order of privilege reduction operations is critical for security.
The technical implementation flaw represents a classic privilege escalation vector that directly violates established security practices and can be categorized under CWE-254 as a weakness in privilege management. When the web server initializes, it attempts to drop privileges from root to a less privileged user account to minimize potential damage from exploits. However, the improper sequence means that while the user ID is changed, the group ID remains at the root level, maintaining elevated privileges that should have been relinquished. This creates a scenario where remote attackers can potentially execute CGI programs with root privileges, effectively bypassing the intended security boundaries.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability allows remote attackers to gain elevated system access through CGI execution, potentially enabling complete system compromise. The attack surface expands significantly as any CGI program executed through this vulnerable web server could run with root privileges, providing attackers with unrestricted access to the underlying operating system. This vulnerability directly aligns with ATT&CK technique T1068 which describes privilege escalation through the exploitation of system vulnerabilities. The risk is particularly severe in environments where CGI scripts are used for dynamic content generation and where the web server processes user input through these scripts.
The mitigation strategy for this vulnerability requires immediate patching of the MyServer 0.8.5 software to correct the privilege dropping sequence in the server.cpp file. The fix should ensure that Process::setgid is called before Process::setuid to properly establish the intended privilege levels. Additionally, system administrators should implement proper privilege separation practices and regularly audit their web server configurations to prevent similar issues. Network segmentation and access controls should be implemented to limit the potential impact of such vulnerabilities, while also ensuring that CGI scripts are properly validated and sanitized to prevent code injection attacks. The vulnerability highlights the importance of following secure coding practices and the critical nature of privilege management in server applications, particularly when dealing with network-facing services that process untrusted input.