CVE-2008-1376 in Nfs Utils
Summary
by MITRE
A certain Red Hat build script for nfs-utils before 1.0.9-35z.el5_2 on Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) 5 omits TCP wrappers support, which might allow remote attackers to bypass intended access restrictions.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/01/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2008-1376 represents a significant security flaw in the nfs-utils package distribution within Red Hat Enterprise Linux 5 systems. This issue specifically affects the build script responsible for compiling the network file system utilities, where a critical omission occurred in the software compilation process. The flaw manifests as the deliberate removal or exclusion of TCP wrappers support during the build phase, creating an exploitable gap in the system's access control mechanisms that could be leveraged by malicious actors.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability stems from the improper configuration of the build environment for nfs-utils version 1.0.9-35z.el5_2 and earlier releases. TCP wrappers, a host-based networking access control mechanism, provides a crucial layer of security by allowing administrators to specify which hosts or users can access specific network services. When the build script omits TCP wrappers support, the resulting compiled binaries lack the necessary hooks and functionality to enforce access restrictions based on hostnames, IP addresses, or other network attributes. This omission effectively neutralizes a fundamental security control that should be present in network services to prevent unauthorized access attempts.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple access control bypass, creating potential pathways for various attack vectors that align with the tactics described in the ATT&CK framework under initial access and privilege escalation categories. Remote attackers who can reach the affected NFS services may exploit this weakness to gain unauthorized access to shared filesystems, potentially leading to data exfiltration, system compromise, or further lateral movement within the network. The vulnerability particularly affects systems where NFS services are exposed to untrusted networks, as the absence of TCP wrappers means that access restrictions configured through /etc/hosts.allow and /etc/hosts.deny files become ineffective. This scenario creates a direct risk of unauthorized file access and could result in significant data breaches or system compromise, especially in enterprise environments where NFS is commonly used for shared storage solutions.
Security mitigation strategies for this vulnerability primarily focus on immediate system updates and patch management procedures. Organizations should prioritize upgrading to nfs-utils version 1.0.9-35z.el5_2 or later, which correctly includes TCP wrappers support in the build process. Additionally, system administrators should implement alternative access control measures such as firewall rules, IP address filtering, and network segmentation to limit exposure of NFS services to untrusted networks. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of proper build environment validation and security testing during software compilation processes, as outlined in various security standards including those referenced in CWE categories related to build and deployment security flaws. Organizations should also consider implementing network monitoring solutions to detect and alert on unusual NFS access patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts, while maintaining comprehensive audit logs to track access to sensitive filesystem resources.