CVE-2007-6061 in Audacity
Summary
by MITRE
Audacity 1.3.2 creates a temporary directory with a predictable name without checking for previous existence of that directory, which allows local users to cause a denial of service (recording deadlock) by creating the directory before Audacity is run. NOTE: this issue can be leveraged to delete arbitrary files or directories via a symlink attack.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/06/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2007-6061 affects Audacity version 1.3.2 and represents a classic directory creation flaw that demonstrates poor temporary file handling practices. This issue stems from the application's failure to properly validate or secure temporary directory creation processes, creating a predictable naming scheme that exposes the software to various attack vectors. The vulnerability operates at the system level where Audacity attempts to establish a temporary directory structure without verifying whether such a directory already exists, leading to potential conflicts and security implications.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through predictable directory naming patterns that allow local attackers to manipulate the application's temporary file environment. When Audacity initializes its temporary directory structure, it generates a directory with a known, predictable name that can be pre-created by an attacker. This predictable naming behavior creates a race condition scenario where the attacker can establish the directory before the legitimate application process, effectively hijacking the temporary file handling mechanism. The flaw specifically manifests when the application attempts to create a directory that already exists, causing the application to enter a deadlock state during recording operations, thereby achieving a denial of service condition.
The operational impact extends beyond simple denial of service to include potential arbitrary file deletion capabilities through symbolic link attacks. When attackers create a directory with a predictable name that Audacity intends to use, they can manipulate the file system to cause Audacity to write to unintended locations. This vulnerability can be leveraged to create symbolic links that point to critical system directories or files, allowing attackers to delete or overwrite important data when Audacity attempts to operate within the compromised temporary directory structure. The attack surface is particularly concerning for local privilege escalation scenarios where attackers can exploit this weakness to modify or remove system-critical files.
This vulnerability maps directly to CWE-377, which addresses the creation of temporary files with insecure permissions and predictable names, and CWE-378, which covers the creation of temporary files with insecure permissions. The issue also aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.001 for executing malicious code through command-line interfaces and T1499.004 for creating or modifying system execution environments. The predictable directory naming pattern represents a fundamental flaw in the application's security design that violates the principle of least privilege and proper resource management. Security practitioners should recognize this as a critical issue that requires immediate remediation through proper directory validation and secure temporary file handling mechanisms.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2007-6061 involve implementing secure temporary directory creation practices that include checking for directory existence, using random or unique naming schemes, and ensuring proper permission settings. System administrators should immediately upgrade to patched versions of Audacity where the vulnerability has been addressed through proper directory validation and secure temporary file handling. The recommended approach includes implementing proper directory existence checks before creation, using secure randomization for temporary directory names, and ensuring that applications create temporary directories with appropriate permissions to prevent symbolic link attacks. Organizations should also consider implementing monitoring for suspicious directory creation patterns and establishing secure coding practices that prevent predictable temporary file naming throughout their software development lifecycle.