CVE-2007-3100 in open-iscsi
Summary
by MITRE
usr/log.c in iscsid in open-iscsi (iscsi-initiator-utils) before 2.0-865 uses a semaphore with insecure permissions (world-writable/world-readable) for managing log messages using shared memory, which allows local users to cause a denial of service (hang) by grabbing the semaphore.
If you want to get best quality of vulnerability data, you may have to visit VulDB.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/20/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2007-3100 affects the open-iscsi implementation within the iscsid daemon, specifically in the usr/log.c component responsible for managing log messages through shared memory mechanisms. This flaw represents a critical security issue that stems from improper permission handling on system synchronization primitives, creating a pathway for local privilege escalation and system stability compromise. The vulnerability exists in versions of open-iscsi prior to 2.0-865, making it a long-standing issue that affected numerous systems relying on iSCSI storage connectivity. The insecure semaphore implementation directly violates fundamental security principles by creating a world-writable and world-readable synchronization object that should only be accessible to authorized processes.
The technical flaw manifests through the improper creation and management of semaphores used for coordinating log message processing within the iscsid daemon. When the semaphore is created with permissive permissions, any local user can acquire the semaphore resource and manipulate its state. This allows an attacker to effectively lock the logging mechanism by grabbing the semaphore, causing subsequent log operations to block indefinitely. The semaphore's world-writable nature means that any user process can modify its value, leading to a condition where legitimate logging operations become stalled or deadlocked. This design flaw creates a denial of service scenario where the system's ability to maintain proper logging becomes compromised, potentially masking other security issues or making troubleshooting extremely difficult.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple denial of service to encompass broader system stability and security implications. Local users with minimal privileges can effectively disrupt the iSCSI connectivity logging mechanism, potentially causing the iscsid daemon to hang or become unresponsive to legitimate requests. This disruption can cascade into more severe issues where storage connectivity becomes unreliable, as the logging system failure may prevent proper error reporting and system diagnostics. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-732, which describes inadequate permissions for security-critical resources, and represents a classic example of insecure direct object reference in system-level components. From an attack perspective, this vulnerability can be exploited by any local user without requiring special privileges, making it particularly dangerous in multi-user environments where system integrity is paramount.
The mitigation strategy for CVE-2007-3100 requires immediate patching of affected open-iscsi installations to version 2.0-865 or later, which implements proper semaphore permission handling. System administrators should verify that semaphore resources are created with restrictive permissions and that only authorized processes can access them. Additionally, monitoring for unauthorized semaphore access attempts should be implemented as part of security auditing procedures. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper resource management in daemon processes and highlights the need for security reviews of shared memory and synchronization primitives. Organizations should also consider implementing privilege separation techniques and ensuring that system components maintain least privilege access to critical resources. This vulnerability serves as a reminder of the critical importance of proper permission handling in system-level software components, particularly those involved in storage connectivity and logging operations. The issue relates to ATT&CK technique T1499.001, which covers the use of system kill processes, and represents a classic case of privilege escalation through improper resource management.