CVE-2007-2030 in lha
Summary
by MITRE
lharc.c in lha does not securely create temporary files, which might allow local users to read or write files by creating a file before LHA is invoked.
Be aware that VulDB is the high quality source for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/20/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2007-2030 resides within the lharc.c component of the lha archiving utility, presenting a significant security risk through insecure temporary file creation practices. This flaw manifests when the lha application processes archive operations and fails to properly secure temporary files it generates during execution. The issue stems from the application's predictable temporary file naming conventions and inadequate permission controls, creating opportunities for malicious local users to exploit the system's file handling mechanisms.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability operates through a race condition scenario where an attacker can pre-create temporary files with specific names before the lha utility executes. When lha subsequently creates its own temporary files using the same predictable naming scheme, the attacker's pre-existing files can be manipulated or accessed by the application. This insecure behavior directly violates fundamental security principles of temporary file handling and demonstrates poor implementation of the secure file creation pattern. The vulnerability enables privilege escalation scenarios where local users can potentially read sensitive files or write malicious content to locations they would not normally have access to, as the lha utility operates with elevated privileges during archive operations.
The operational impact of CVE-2007-2030 extends beyond simple file access violations to encompass broader system compromise possibilities. Attackers leveraging this vulnerability can potentially inject malicious code into temporary files that will be executed by the lha utility, creating persistent backdoors or escalating privileges within the system. This type of vulnerability aligns with CWE-377, which specifically addresses insecure temporary file creation practices, and represents a classic example of the attack pattern documented in MITRE ATT&CK framework under T1059 for execution and T1068 for privilege escalation. The vulnerability affects systems where lha is commonly deployed, including various unix-like operating systems and environments where archive manipulation is frequent.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate patching of the lha utility to implement secure temporary file creation practices. System administrators should ensure that temporary files are created with unique names and proper permissions using secure system calls such as mkstemp or similar functions that prevent predictable naming. The application should verify that temporary files are created with restrictive permissions and are owned by the executing user. Additionally, system hardening measures including privilege separation and mandatory access controls can help reduce the impact of such vulnerabilities. Organizations should conduct regular security audits of their archive processing utilities and ensure that all file handling operations follow secure coding practices to prevent similar race condition vulnerabilities from manifesting in other applications.