CVE-2008-4313 in Enterprise Linux Desktop
Summary
by MITRE
A certain Red Hat patch for tog-pegasus in OpenGroup Pegasus 2.7.0 does not properly configure the PAM tty name, which allows remote authenticated users to bypass intended access restrictions and send requests to OpenPegasus WBEM services.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/21/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2008-4313 represents a critical security flaw in the OpenPegasus WBEM (Web-Based Enterprise Management) implementation that affects Red Hat systems running tog-pegasus version 2.7.0. This issue stems from an improper configuration of the Pluggable Authentication Modules (PAM) tty name within the Pegasus framework, creating a significant bypass opportunity for authenticated remote attackers. The flaw specifically impacts the authentication and authorization mechanisms that govern access to WBEM services, which are fundamental components for system management and monitoring in enterprise environments. The vulnerability exists in the context of Pegasus 2.7.0, a widely deployed open source WBEM implementation that provides standardized management interfaces for IT infrastructure components.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability lies in the incorrect handling of the PAM tty name parameter during the authentication process. When PAM is properly configured, the tty name serves as a critical identifier that helps establish the context of the authentication request, including the terminal or connection source. In this case, the Red Hat patch for tog-pegasus failed to correctly implement or validate the PAM tty name, allowing authenticated users to manipulate their session context. This misconfiguration enables attackers to forge or bypass the intended authentication restrictions that should prevent unauthorized access to WBEM services. The flaw specifically affects the Pegasus authentication module where the PAM integration does not properly validate or enforce the terminal context, creating a path for privilege escalation through session manipulation.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is substantial as it allows remote authenticated users to bypass intended access controls and send unauthorized requests to OpenPegasus WBEM services. This creates a scenario where attackers who have already gained legitimate authentication credentials can exploit the flawed PAM configuration to access restricted management functions or data that should be protected. The vulnerability essentially undermines the authentication framework by allowing session hijacking or manipulation, potentially enabling attackers to perform administrative operations, access sensitive system information, or manipulate management interfaces. This represents a significant risk in enterprise environments where WBEM services are used for critical system management and monitoring functions, as it could allow attackers to escalate their privileges or gain access to restricted management capabilities.
The security implications of this vulnerability align with CWE-284, which addresses improper access control, and can be mapped to ATT&CK techniques related to privilege escalation and credential access. Organizations using OpenPegasus 2.7.0 implementations are particularly vulnerable since the flaw affects the core authentication mechanisms that protect WBEM services. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper PAM configuration and validation in security-critical applications, as improper handling of authentication context can lead to complete bypass of access controls. Mitigation strategies should include applying the official Red Hat patches, properly configuring PAM modules, and implementing additional access controls such as network segmentation and monitoring of WBEM service access patterns. Organizations should also consider implementing principle of least privilege for WBEM service accounts and regular security auditing of authentication mechanisms to prevent similar issues in other components of their management infrastructure.
This vulnerability serves as a reminder of the critical importance of proper authentication context handling in security frameworks and demonstrates how seemingly minor configuration issues in authentication modules can lead to significant security breaches. The flaw highlights the need for comprehensive testing of security patches and proper validation of authentication mechanisms, particularly in enterprise management platforms where access to system information and management capabilities can have far-reaching consequences. Organizations should ensure that their security patches are thoroughly tested in staging environments before deployment, and that authentication contexts are properly validated to prevent similar bypass scenarios. The incident underscores the importance of maintaining up-to-date security configurations and the potential risks associated with incomplete or incorrect patch implementations in security-critical software components.