CVE-2008-1569 in policyd-weight
Summary
by MITRE
policyd-weight 0.1.14 beta-16 and earlier allows local users to modify or delete arbitrary files via a symlink attack on temporary files that are used when creating a socket.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/07/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2008-1569 affects policyd-weight version 0.1.14 beta-16 and earlier, representing a critical security flaw in the mail server policy daemon. This issue stems from improper handling of temporary files during socket creation processes, creating a dangerous symlink attack vector that local attackers can exploit to gain unauthorized access to system resources. The vulnerability specifically targets the temporary file creation mechanism within the policy daemon's socket handling functionality, where the application fails to properly validate or secure temporary file paths before use.
The technical flaw manifests through a classic race condition and symlink attack pattern where an attacker can manipulate the temporary file creation process by establishing symbolic links that point to arbitrary files on the system. When the policyd-weight daemon creates temporary files for socket operations, it does not adequately verify the integrity or ownership of these temporary files, allowing malicious users to pre-create symlinks that redirect the daemon's file operations to sensitive system files. This vulnerability falls under the category of insecure temporary file handling as classified by CWE-377, specifically CWE-378 which addresses the creation of temporary files with insecure permissions and the absence of proper file path validation. The attack vector leverages the principle of least privilege violation, where local users can escalate their privileges to modify or delete files they would normally not have access to.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple file manipulation, as it can potentially allow attackers to compromise the integrity of the mail server's policy enforcement mechanisms. Attackers can exploit this weakness to modify critical policy files, delete essential configuration data, or even inject malicious code into the system through the compromised temporary file handling process. The vulnerability affects systems where policyd-weight is deployed as a mail server policy daemon, particularly those running older versions that have not received the necessary security patches. This creates a significant risk for organizations relying on email security policies, as the compromise of the policy daemon can lead to unauthorized access to email filtering rules, user access controls, and potentially broader system infiltration. The attack can be executed with minimal privileges, making it particularly dangerous as it requires no elevated access rights to exploit.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2008-1569 should focus on immediate version updates to policyd-weight 0.1.14 beta-17 or later, which contain the necessary patches to address the temporary file handling vulnerability. Organizations should implement proper file permissions and ownership checks for temporary directories, ensuring that the daemon creates temporary files with secure, predictable names and locations. The recommended approach involves using atomic file creation techniques that prevent symlink attacks through proper file descriptor management and path validation. Additionally, system administrators should consider implementing mandatory access controls and monitoring for suspicious file access patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059 which covers command and scripting interpreter usage, and T1068 which addresses local privilege escalation through insecure file handling. Organizations should also conduct regular security audits of their mail server configurations and ensure that all system components are kept up to date with the latest security patches to prevent similar vulnerabilities from being exploited in their infrastructure.