CVE-2008-1926 in Linux
Summary
by MITRE
Argument injection vulnerability in login (login-utils/login.c) in util-linux-ng 2.14 and earlier makes it easier for remote attackers to hide activities by modifying portions of log events, as demonstrated by appending an "addr=" statement to the login name, aka "audit log injection."
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/31/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2008-1926 represents a critical argument injection flaw within the login utilities of util-linux-ng version 2.14 and earlier. This issue specifically affects the login program's handling of user input during authentication processes, creating a pathway for malicious actors to manipulate audit logging mechanisms. The vulnerability stems from insufficient sanitization of login name parameters, allowing attackers to inject arbitrary arguments that can alter the content of system audit logs.
The technical implementation of this flaw occurs in the login-utils/login.c component where user-provided login names are processed without adequate validation or filtering. When a user attempts to log in, the system processes the login name and incorporates it into audit log entries without proper escaping or sanitization of special characters. This creates an injection vector where an attacker can append additional parameters to the login name itself, such as the "addr=" statement mentioned in the vulnerability description. The injection occurs at the argument parsing level where the system fails to distinguish between legitimate login credentials and maliciously crafted input designed to modify log content.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple log manipulation, as it enables sophisticated attackers to obscure their activities within system audit trails. By injecting malicious arguments into the login name field, adversaries can effectively hide their presence or alter the appearance of their actions in system logs, making forensic analysis and security monitoring significantly more difficult. This capability directly undermines the integrity of audit logging systems and can be exploited to cover tracks during unauthorized access attempts or to manipulate system records for malicious purposes. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it operates at the authentication layer where it can affect all login activities and potentially compromise the entire system's security monitoring infrastructure.
Security professionals should recognize this vulnerability as a variant of CWE-77, which describes improper neutralization of special elements used in command or query contexts. The attack pattern aligns with ATT&CK technique T1562.006, which involves "Timestomp" and related log manipulation techniques. Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including upgrading to util-linux-ng versions that have patched this vulnerability, implementing additional input validation at the application level, and establishing more robust audit log monitoring systems that can detect anomalous patterns in log entries. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of proper input sanitization in system-level utilities and demonstrates how seemingly minor flaws in authentication components can have significant implications for overall system security and audit integrity.