CVE-2008-4948 in digitaldj
Summary
by MITRE
fest.pl in digitaldj 0.7.5 allows local users to overwrite arbitrary files via a symlink attack on the /tmp/ddj_fest.tmp temporary file.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/13/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2008-4948 resides in the fest.pl script component of digitaldj version 0.7.5, representing a classic insecure temporary file creation flaw that enables local privilege escalation through symbolic link manipulation. This issue manifests when the application creates temporary files without proper security controls, specifically targeting the /tmp/ddj_fest.tmp file location where the symlink attack can be executed to redirect file operations to arbitrary locations on the filesystem. The flaw directly violates security principle of least privilege and demonstrates poor input validation practices in temporary file handling mechanisms.
This vulnerability operates through a time-of-check to time-of-use race condition where the application checks for the existence of a temporary file and subsequently creates or modifies it, but does not properly secure the temporary file creation process against symlink attacks. The attack requires local system access and leverages the predictable naming convention of temporary files to establish a symbolic link that points to a target file of the attacker's choosing, allowing unauthorized modification of critical system files or configuration data. Such vulnerabilities fall under CWE-377: Insecure Temporary Files and CWE-378: Creation of Temporary File With Insecure Permissions, both of which are categorized under the broader category of insecure file handling practices.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple file overwriting, as it can potentially enable attackers to escalate privileges, modify system configuration files, or inject malicious code into the digitaldj application environment. Attackers can leverage this weakness to compromise the integrity of the application and potentially gain elevated system privileges, especially when the application runs with elevated permissions. This type of vulnerability is particularly concerning in multi-user environments where local users might exploit such weaknesses to gain unauthorized access to system resources or manipulate application data. The attack vector aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for executing malicious code through script interpreters and T1068 for local privilege escalation through insecure file permissions.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2008-4948 should focus on implementing secure temporary file creation practices that prevent symbolic link attacks by using proper file creation methods such as open() with O_EXCL flag or mkstemp() functions that guarantee atomic creation of temporary files. System administrators should ensure that applications running with elevated privileges do not create predictable temporary files in world-writable directories such as /tmp. Additionally, implementing proper file permission controls, using non-predictable temporary file names, and conducting regular security audits of application temporary file handling mechanisms can significantly reduce the risk of exploitation. The vulnerability also underscores the importance of following secure coding practices and adhering to the principle of least privilege when designing applications that handle temporary file operations.