CVE-2008-5188 in Ecryptfs Utils
Summary
by MITRE
The (1) ecryptfs-setup-private, (2) ecryptfs-setup-confidential, and (3) ecryptfs-setup-pam-wrapped.sh scripts in ecryptfs-utils 45 through 61 in eCryptfs place cleartext passwords on command lines, which allows local users to obtain sensitive information by listing the process.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/25/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2008-5188 affects the eCryptfs utilities package version 45 through 61, specifically targeting three critical setup scripts that handle cryptographic operations. These scripts including ecryptfs-setup-private, ecryptfs-setup-confidential, and ecryptfs-setup-pam-wrapped.sh are designed to facilitate the creation of encrypted filesystems and authentication mechanisms. The flaw lies in how these utilities handle password input during the setup process, creating a significant security risk that directly violates fundamental principles of secure credential handling.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from the practice of passing cleartext passwords as command line arguments to the affected scripts. When these scripts execute, the passwords become visible in the process list accessible through standard system monitoring tools such as ps, top, or /proc/*/cmdline. This occurs because command line arguments are typically stored in memory alongside process metadata and are easily accessible to any user with appropriate privileges or system monitoring capabilities. The vulnerability represents a direct violation of the principle of least privilege and secure credential management as outlined in the CWE-312 category for "Cleartext Storage of Sensitive Information."
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it creates opportunities for privilege escalation and credential harvesting attacks. Local attackers who can monitor process lists gain immediate access to plaintext passwords that could be used to compromise the encrypted filesystems, potentially leading to full system compromise. This issue particularly affects systems where multiple users share the same machine or where monitoring tools are accessible to unauthorized parties. The vulnerability creates a persistent risk that remains active as long as the affected scripts are in use, making it a critical concern for system administrators managing sensitive data environments.
Security mitigations for this vulnerability focus on modifying the script execution patterns to eliminate cleartext password exposure. The recommended approach involves implementing proper password input handling through stdin or secure file-based input mechanisms rather than command line arguments. System administrators should upgrade to patched versions of eCryptfs utilities or implement workarounds such as using environment variables with restricted permissions or employing alternative credential management approaches. Organizations should also implement process monitoring and alerting systems to detect unauthorized access to process information. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1056.001 for "Input Capture" and demonstrates the importance of following secure coding practices as outlined in NIST SP 800-163 for protecting sensitive information in system processes.