CVE-2007-4129 in CoolKey
Summary
by MITRE
CoolKey 1.1.0 allows local users to overwrite arbitrary files via a symlink attack on temporary files in the /tmp/.pk11ipc1/ directory.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/29/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2007-4129 represents a critical path traversal and symbolic link attack flaw within the CoolKey 1.1.0 security framework. This issue specifically affects the temporary file handling mechanisms used by the CoolKey application, which is designed for cryptographic operations and smart card authentication. The vulnerability stems from the application's failure to properly validate or secure temporary file creation processes, creating a dangerous condition where local attackers can manipulate the system's temporary file structure to overwrite arbitrary files with malicious content.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through a carefully crafted symbolic link attack targeting the /tmp/.pk11ipc1/ directory. This directory serves as a temporary communication channel for the CoolKey application, facilitating inter-process communication between different security components. When CoolKey creates temporary files in this location, it does not properly verify whether the target directory contains symbolic links or if the temporary files being created are being redirected to alternate locations. Attackers can exploit this by creating symbolic links within the temporary directory that point to sensitive system files, allowing them to overwrite critical files with arbitrary content during the normal operation of the CoolKey application.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple file overwriting capabilities, as it provides attackers with a means to potentially compromise the entire cryptographic security infrastructure managed by CoolKey. This flaw enables privilege escalation attacks where local users can manipulate the application's behavior to modify system files, configuration data, or even cryptographic keys. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it operates at the local user level, meaning that any user with access to the system can potentially exploit it without requiring specialized privileges or network access. This characteristic aligns with the ATT&CK framework's privilege escalation techniques, specifically targeting local account privileges and leveraging application weaknesses to gain broader system access.
The underlying cause of this vulnerability can be classified as a weakness in temporary file handling, which maps to CWE-377: Insecure Temporary File and CWE-378: Poorly Specific Temporary File. These weaknesses occur when applications create temporary files without proper security controls, allowing attackers to manipulate file creation processes. The vulnerability also demonstrates characteristics of CWE-22: Path Traversal, as the attacker can manipulate the path resolution to redirect file operations to unintended locations. The exploitation requires minimal privileges and can be automated, making it particularly dangerous in environments where multiple users share the same system resources. Organizations should implement proper file permission controls, validate all temporary file operations, and ensure that applications create temporary files with secure, unique naming conventions to prevent such attacks.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability include immediate patching of the CoolKey application to version 1.1.1 or later, which contains proper temporary file handling mechanisms. System administrators should also implement strict file permission controls on temporary directories, ensuring that only authorized processes can create or modify files within these locations. The principle of least privilege should be enforced by running CoolKey applications with minimal required permissions, and monitoring should be implemented to detect unauthorized symbolic link creation in temporary directories. Additionally, the application should be configured to use secure temporary file creation methods that prevent symbolic link attacks, such as creating temporary files with unique, unpredictable names and ensuring proper file ownership and permissions. Organizations should also consider implementing automated security scanning tools that can detect similar vulnerabilities in other applications that may be susceptible to the same class of attacks.