CVE-2007-5201 in Duplicity
Summary
by MITRE
The FTP backend for Duplicity before 0.4.9 sends the password as a command line argument when calling ncftp, which might allow local users to read the password by listing the process and its arguments.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/05/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2007-5201 affects the Duplicity backup software version 0.4.8 and earlier, specifically within its FTP backend implementation. This security flaw represents a critical misconfiguration in how authentication credentials are handled during remote file transfers. The vulnerability arises from the software's design decision to pass the FTP password as a command line argument when invoking the ncftp utility, creating an exploitable condition that compromises user authentication data.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from the fundamental principle of command line argument exposure in Unix-like operating systems. When Duplicity executes ncftp with the password embedded as a command line parameter, the password becomes visible through standard system monitoring tools such as ps, top, or process listing utilities. This exposure occurs because command line arguments are typically stored in the process memory space and accessible to any user with appropriate permissions or system monitoring capabilities. The vulnerability directly maps to CWE-255, which addresses insecure password handling, and more specifically to CWE-312, which covers the exposure of sensitive information through improper data handling in process arguments.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability creates significant risk for users who employ Duplicity for backup operations involving sensitive data. Local attackers with minimal privileges can easily extract authentication credentials by simply executing process listing commands, potentially gaining unauthorized access to remote FTP servers and the data they protect. The impact extends beyond immediate credential theft to potential data breaches, unauthorized access to backup repositories, and compromise of the entire backup infrastructure. This vulnerability particularly affects environments where multiple users share the same system or where process monitoring is enabled for administrative purposes.
The security implications of CVE-2007-5201 align with several ATT&CK framework techniques including T1005 for data from local system, T1078 for valid accounts, and T1552 for credentials from password stores. The vulnerability demonstrates how seemingly minor implementation details in security software can create significant exposure points. The remediation strategy involves updating to Duplicity version 0.4.9 or later, which properly handles authentication credentials through secure methods such as environment variables or configuration files rather than command line arguments. Additional mitigation measures include restricting process visibility through system hardening, implementing proper access controls, and utilizing alternative backup methods that do not expose credentials in process arguments. System administrators should also consider implementing monitoring for unauthorized process enumeration activities as part of their security posture assessment.