CVE-2007-4303 in CerbNG
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple race conditions in (1) certain rules and (2) argument copying during VM protection, in CerbNG for FreeBSD 4.8 allow local users to defeat system call interposition and possibly gain privileges or bypass auditing, as demonstrated by modifying command lines in log-exec.cb.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/06/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2007-4303 represents a critical security flaw in CerbNG for FreeBSD 4.8 systems that stems from improper handling of system call interposition mechanisms during virtual machine protection operations. This issue manifests through multiple race conditions that occur during the execution of specific rules and argument copying processes, creating exploitable pathways for local attackers to bypass security controls. The vulnerability specifically targets the timing-sensitive operations that occur when the system attempts to intercept and monitor system calls, particularly those related to process execution and command line argument handling.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability exploits race conditions that arise when CerbNG attempts to copy arguments during VM protection operations. These race conditions occur during the critical window between when system call interception begins and when the system properly validates or copies argument data structures. The flaw allows attackers to manipulate the timing of operations such that command line arguments can be modified or overwritten before the system properly processes them. This particular vulnerability was demonstrated through modifications to the log-exec.cb file, which serves as a configuration file for logging execution events within the CerbNG framework. The race condition creates a scenario where an attacker can inject malicious command line arguments that will be processed by the system after the interception mechanism has already been bypassed.
The operational impact of CVE-2007-4303 extends beyond simple privilege escalation to encompass broader system security compromise capabilities. Local users who exploit this vulnerability can potentially bypass comprehensive auditing mechanisms that are designed to monitor and log system call activity. This creates a significant risk for systems that rely on CerbNG for security monitoring, as the attack vector allows for the manipulation of audit trails and the execution of unauthorized commands with elevated privileges. The vulnerability's exploitation can lead to persistent access to compromised systems, making it particularly dangerous for environments where security monitoring and logging are critical for incident detection and response.
Security mitigations for this vulnerability require immediate system updates to patched versions of CerbNG that address the race condition issues in argument copying and system call interception mechanisms. System administrators should implement strict access controls and monitoring for the log-exec.cb configuration file to prevent unauthorized modifications. The fix typically involves implementing proper synchronization mechanisms and ensuring that argument copying operations complete before system call interception attempts are made. Additionally, organizations should consider implementing runtime monitoring solutions that can detect anomalous behavior patterns associated with race condition exploitation attempts. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-362, which addresses race conditions in concurrent programming, and maps to ATT&CK technique T1055.011 for privilege escalation through system call manipulation. The remediation process should include comprehensive system audits to verify that no exploitation attempts have occurred and that all security controls remain intact following patch deployment.