CVE-2007-5028 in Dibbler
Summary
by MITRE
Dibbler 0.6.0 on Linux uses weak world-writable permissions for unspecified files in /var/lib/dibbler, which has unknown impact and local attack vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/08/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2007-5028 affects Dibbler version 0.6.0 running on Linux systems where the client daemon creates files with world-writable permissions in the /var/lib/dibbler directory. This represents a critical security flaw that undermines the integrity and confidentiality of the network configuration management process. The issue stems from improper file permission handling within the DHCPv6 client implementation, which allows any local user to modify or overwrite critical configuration files that control the client's behavior and network connectivity parameters.
This weakness creates multiple attack vectors for local adversaries who can exploit the world-writable permissions to manipulate the DHCPv6 client's operational environment. The unspecified nature of the affected files suggests that the vulnerability may impact various aspects of the client's functionality including configuration data, lease information, or operational state files. According to CWE-732, this vulnerability directly corresponds to an incorrect permission assignment where the system grants excessive permissions to files that should remain restricted to authorized processes or users. The impact of such a flaw extends beyond simple privilege escalation as it can lead to persistent network disruption, man-in-the-middle attacks, or complete compromise of the client's network configuration.
The operational implications of CVE-2007-5028 are significant for any organization relying on Dibbler for IPv6 network configuration management. Local attackers can leverage this vulnerability to modify DHCPv6 client behavior, potentially causing network partitioning, redirecting traffic through malicious servers, or creating persistent backdoors within the network infrastructure. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1068 which covers local privilege escalation through exploitation of weak file permissions. Network administrators may not immediately detect such attacks as they can occur silently in the background, allowing attackers to maintain persistent access while manipulating network parameters without raising immediate alerts.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on immediate permission correction and long-term system hardening. System administrators must immediately review and correct the file permissions in /var/lib/dibbler, ensuring that only the Dibbler client process has write access to these files. The recommended approach involves setting appropriate ownership and permissions using chmod and chown commands to restrict access to root or the specific user account running the Dibbler service. Additionally, implementing proper file system monitoring and access control lists can help detect unauthorized modifications to critical configuration files. Organizations should also consider upgrading to newer versions of Dibbler that address this permission issue, as version 0.6.0 represents an outdated release that may contain additional undiscovered vulnerabilities. Regular security audits of file permissions and access controls should be implemented to prevent similar issues in other network management tools and services.