CVE-2007-5964 in Red Hat
Summary
by MITRE
The default configuration of autofs 5 in some Linux distributions, such as Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) 5, omits the nosuid option for the hosts (/net filesystem) map, which allows local users to gain privileges via a setuid program on a remote NFS server.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/02/2025
The vulnerability described in CVE-2007-5964 represents a critical security flaw in the default configuration of autofs version 5 within certain Linux distributions including Red Hat Enterprise Linux 5. This issue stems from the improper mounting configuration of the /net filesystem, which serves as a crucial component in automounting network filesystems such as NFS shares. The autofs service acts as a daemon that automatically mounts and unmounts filesystems based on access patterns, making it a fundamental element in networked computing environments where remote storage resources need dynamic access.
The core technical flaw lies in the omission of the nosuid mount option when configuring the hosts map for the /net filesystem. The nosuid option is a critical mount flag that prevents the execution of setuid programs from the mounted filesystem, thereby eliminating the possibility of privilege escalation through malicious setuid binaries. When this option is absent from the mount configuration, local users on the system can potentially exploit this weakness by accessing setuid programs that exist on remote NFS servers mounted through the autofs service. This creates a direct pathway for privilege escalation attacks where unprivileged users can execute programs with elevated privileges belonging to the root user or other high-privilege accounts.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple privilege escalation, as it fundamentally compromises the security boundaries of the affected system. Attackers can leverage this weakness to execute arbitrary code with higher privileges, potentially leading to complete system compromise. The vulnerability affects systems where autofs is enabled and configured to mount remote NFS shares without proper security hardening. This issue is particularly concerning in enterprise environments where multiple users may have local access to systems that utilize autofs for network storage access, as it provides a vector for attackers to gain unauthorized administrative access to the system.
The flaw aligns with CWE-276, which addresses improper privileges, and represents a classic case of insufficient privilege separation in filesystem mounting operations. From an attack perspective, this vulnerability maps to ATT&CK technique T1068, which involves exploiting local system privileges to escalate access. The vulnerability demonstrates how default configurations in security-critical services can introduce exploitable weaknesses, as the default autofs configuration fails to implement proper security hardening measures. Organizations implementing autofs for network filesystem management must ensure that all mount options are properly configured to prevent privilege escalation vectors.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2007-5964 require immediate configuration changes to the autofs service, specifically ensuring that the nosuid option is included in all mount commands for the /net filesystem. System administrators should modify the autofs configuration files to explicitly include this security flag, typically through the /etc/auto.master or related configuration files. The recommended approach involves updating the mount command parameters to include -o nosuid when mounting remote filesystems through autofs. Additionally, organizations should implement regular security audits to verify that autofs configurations comply with security best practices and that no unauthorized changes have been made to the default mounting behavior. Patch management should include updating autofs packages to versions that properly implement security hardening by default, and system administrators should consider implementing additional monitoring for unauthorized access attempts to mounted filesystems. The vulnerability underscores the importance of security-by-default configurations and proper hardening of system services to prevent exploitation through configuration weaknesses.