CVE-2008-4967 in linuxtrade
Summary
by MITRE
linuxtrade 3.65 allows local users to overwrite arbitrary files via a symlink attack on the (a) /tmp/bwk, (b) /tmp/zzz, and (c) /tmp/ggg temporary files, related to the (1) linuxtrade.bwkvol, (2) linuxtrade.wn, and (3) moneyam.helper scripts.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/14/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2008-4967 represents a critical security flaw in the linuxtrade 3.65 software suite that enables local privilege escalation through symlink attack vectors. This issue specifically targets three temporary files located in the /tmp directory: /tmp/bwk, /tmp/zzz, and /tmp/ggg, which are utilized by three distinct scripts within the software ecosystem. The vulnerability stems from improper handling of temporary files during script execution, creating predictable file paths that can be exploited by malicious local users to overwrite arbitrary files on the system. The affected scripts linuxtrade.bwkvol, linuxtrade.wn, and moneyam.helper all demonstrate this weakness by creating temporary files without proper security measures to prevent symbolic link attacks. This type of vulnerability falls under the category of insecure temporary file creation as classified by CWE-377, which specifically addresses the creation of temporary files with insecure permissions and predictable naming schemes that can be exploited by attackers to gain elevated privileges or cause system compromise.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple file overwriting capabilities, as local attackers can leverage these temporary files to execute malicious code with the privileges of the affected processes. When these scripts run with elevated privileges, the symlink attack can result in privilege escalation to root or other high-privilege accounts, depending on how the scripts are configured. The attack vector requires the attacker to have local access to the system but does not need network connectivity or remote exploitation capabilities. The predictable naming of temporary files in the /tmp directory makes this attack straightforward to execute, as attackers can simply create symbolic links to target files before the legitimate scripts attempt to create their temporary files. This vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper file handling and the principle of least privilege in system security, where scripts should not be allowed to create temporary files in world-writable directories without proper security controls.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2008-4967 should focus on eliminating the root cause of the vulnerability through proper temporary file handling practices. System administrators should immediately update to patched versions of linuxtrade if available, or implement workarounds such as changing the temporary file locations to directories with restricted permissions or using secure temporary file creation functions that prevent symbolic link attacks. The recommended approach involves modifying the affected scripts to use mkstemp or similar secure functions that create temporary files with unpredictable names and proper permissions, preventing attackers from creating symbolic links that would be followed by the script execution. Organizations should also implement monitoring for suspicious temporary file creation patterns and ensure that the /tmp directory has appropriate permissions set to prevent unauthorized symbolic link creation. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability aligns with T1059.001 (Command and Scripting Interpreter: PowerShell) and T1548.002 (Abuse Elevation Control Mechanism: Sudo) techniques, as it provides a pathway for local privilege escalation that could be leveraged as part of broader attack chains. The vulnerability also relates to T1078.004 (Valid Accounts: Cloud Accounts) if the affected system has cloud integration, as successful exploitation could provide persistent access to elevated system resources.