CVE-2007-4500 in SSHKeychain
Summary
by MITRE
Unspecified vulnerability in TunnelRunner in SSHKeychain before 0.8.2 beta, and possibly later versions, allows local users to gain privileges via unspecified vectors.
Be aware that VulDB is the high quality source for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/07/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2007-4500 affects TunnelRunner component within SSHKeychain software versions prior to 0.8.2 beta, representing a local privilege escalation issue that could potentially impact systems using this security tool. This unspecified vulnerability exists within the tunnel management functionality of SSHKeychain, which is designed to facilitate secure SSH connections through key-based authentication mechanisms. The affected software operates in a local context where malicious users could exploit this weakness to elevate their privileges on the system, potentially gaining access to sensitive data or system resources that should remain restricted.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from inadequate privilege handling within the TunnelRunner module, which likely fails to properly validate user permissions or implement proper access controls when processing tunnel requests. This flaw allows local attackers to manipulate the system's security model through unspecified attack vectors that could involve exploiting race conditions, improper input validation, or insufficient privilege separation mechanisms. The vulnerability's classification as local privilege escalation means that an attacker must already have a valid user account on the system but does not require elevated privileges to exploit the weakness, making it particularly concerning for environments where multiple users share systems or where user accounts may be compromised through other means.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability could enable attackers to gain unauthorized access to sensitive SSH keys, system credentials, or other protected information stored within the SSHKeychain environment. The potential consequences extend beyond simple privilege elevation to include data theft, system compromise, and unauthorized access to network resources that the compromised system can reach through established SSH connections. Organizations relying on SSHKeychain for secure remote access management would face significant security risks if this vulnerability remains unpatched, as it could allow attackers to move laterally within networks or establish persistent access to critical infrastructure components.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on immediate patching of SSHKeychain to version 0.8.2 beta or later, which contains the necessary security fixes to address the privilege escalation issue. System administrators should also implement additional monitoring of local user activities and access patterns to detect potential exploitation attempts. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-269, which addresses improper privileges assigned to protected resources, and may relate to ATT&CK technique T1068, which covers local privilege escalation through system binary exploitation. Organizations should conduct thorough security assessments of their SSHKeychain installations and consider alternative secure tunneling solutions if continued use of the vulnerable software is necessary. Regular security updates and patch management procedures should be enforced to prevent similar vulnerabilities from being exploited in other security tools or system components.