CVE-2007-3849 in Red Hat
Summary
by MITRE
Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) 5 ships the rpm for the Advanced Intrusion Detection Environment (AIDE) before 0.13.1 with a database that lacks checksum information, which allows context-dependent attackers to bypass file integrity checks and modify certain files.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/07/2025
The vulnerability described in CVE-2007-3849 represents a critical flaw in the Advanced Intrusion Detection Environment AIDE package shipped with Red Hat Enterprise Linux 5 before version 0.13.1. This issue fundamentally undermines the integrity checking capabilities that AIDE is designed to provide, creating a significant security gap in system monitoring and protection mechanisms. The vulnerability stems from a configuration oversight where the rpm package was distributed with a database that lacks proper checksum information, which is essential for detecting unauthorized modifications to files within the system.
The technical flaw manifests in the absence of checksum data within the AIDE database configuration, which directly violates the principles of file integrity verification as defined by the Common Weakness Enumeration standard CWE-16. When AIDE operates without checksum information, it cannot properly detect modifications to files, effectively rendering the integrity checking functionality useless for certain file types or system components. This weakness allows attackers to modify files without detection, as the system's ability to identify unauthorized changes is compromised. The vulnerability specifically affects the database structure and configuration rather than the core AIDE functionality, making it particularly insidious as it operates at the configuration level where attackers can exploit the lack of proper validation.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability creates a false sense of security for systems relying on AIDE for intrusion detection and file integrity monitoring. Attackers can exploit this weakness to modify critical system files, configuration files, or application binaries without triggering alerts, potentially leading to persistent threats that remain undetected for extended periods. The context-dependent nature of this vulnerability means that exploitation requires knowledge of the system configuration and understanding of how AIDE operates, but once exploited, it provides attackers with a stealthy method of maintaining access and modifying system components. This vulnerability directly impacts the security posture of enterprise systems and violates fundamental security principles outlined in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under the technique of "File and Directory Permissions Modification" and "Persistence" tactics.
The mitigation strategy for this vulnerability requires immediate patching of the AIDE package to version 0.13.1 or later, which properly implements checksum information in the database configuration. Organizations should also conduct thorough audits of their AIDE configurations to ensure that checksums are properly enabled and functioning across all monitored files. System administrators must verify that the database files contain appropriate checksum information and that the integrity checking mechanisms are properly configured to detect unauthorized modifications. Additionally, organizations should implement layered security controls and monitoring solutions to compensate for the period during which the system was vulnerable, as the lack of proper checksums creates a window of opportunity for attackers to compromise system integrity without detection.