CVE-2008-4981 in realtimebattle
Summary
by MITRE
perl.robot in realtimebattle 1.0.8 allows local users to overwrite arbitrary files via a symlink attack on the /tmp/perl.robot.log temporary file.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/14/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2008-4981 resides within the realtimebattle 1.0.8 software suite, specifically affecting the perl.robot component. This issue represents a classic insecure temporary file creation flaw that enables local attackers to exploit a race condition through symbolic link manipulation. The vulnerability manifests when the application creates a temporary log file at /tmp/perl.robot.log without proper security measures to prevent symlink attacks, creating a pathway for privilege escalation and arbitrary file overwrite operations. The flaw demonstrates poor security practices in temporary file handling that has been documented in various security frameworks including CWE-377 and CWE-378, which specifically address insecure temporary file creation and improper temporary file permissions.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability relies on the attacker's ability to establish a symbolic link pointing to a target file before the vulnerable application creates its temporary file. During the race condition window between the symlink creation and the application's temporary file creation, the attacker can manipulate the system to overwrite files with malicious content or gain elevated privileges. This type of attack falls under the ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for execution through scripting and T1548.001 for privilege escalation through abuse of credentials, demonstrating how seemingly minor implementation flaws can compound into significant security risks. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it allows local users to overwrite arbitrary files, potentially targeting system-critical components or sensitive user data.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple file overwrite capabilities, as it can be leveraged to escalate privileges or disrupt system operations. Attackers could target critical system files, configuration files, or even user data files to gain unauthorized access or cause denial of service conditions. The vulnerability affects any local user on systems running realtimebattle 1.0.8, making it particularly dangerous in multi-user environments where privilege separation is expected. This flaw exemplifies the broader category of insecure file handling issues that have been repeatedly identified in security assessments and represents a common pattern in legacy software development practices that lack proper security considerations during the development lifecycle. Organizations using this software should consider immediate remediation through patching or implementing proper temporary file handling mechanisms.
The vulnerability demonstrates a fundamental lack of proper security controls in the temporary file creation process, specifically failing to validate the existence and ownership of temporary files before writing to them. The attack vector relies on the predictable naming of temporary files in the /tmp directory, a common pattern that has been identified in numerous security advisories and best practices documentation. This flaw aligns with industry standards that recommend using secure temporary file creation functions and implementing proper file permissions to prevent symbolic link attacks. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of the principle of least privilege and proper sandboxing techniques that should be implemented in applications handling temporary files to prevent such exploitation scenarios. Security professionals should treat this as a critical vulnerability requiring immediate attention and remediation in affected systems.