CVE-2008-5302 in File::Path
Summary
by MITRE
Race condition in the rmtree function in File::Path 1.08 and 2.07 (lib/File/Path.pm) in Perl 5.8.8 and 5.10.0 allows local users to create arbitrary setuid binaries via a symlink attack, a different vulnerability than CVE-2005-0448, CVE-2004-0452, and CVE-2008-2827. NOTE: this is a regression error related to CVE-2005-0448. It is different from CVE-2008-5303 due to affected versions.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/21/2019
The vulnerability described in CVE-2008-5302 represents a critical race condition within the rmtree function of Perl's File::Path module, specifically affecting versions 1.08 and 2.07. This flaw exists in Perl 5.8.8 and 5.10.0 installations and creates a significant security risk that allows local attackers to manipulate the file system in ways that could lead to privilege escalation. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it enables attackers to create arbitrary setuid binaries through carefully crafted symlink attacks, which fundamentally undermines system security by allowing unauthorized users to gain elevated privileges.
The technical implementation of this race condition occurs during directory removal operations when the rmtree function processes symbolic links without proper synchronization mechanisms. When the File::Path module encounters a directory structure containing symbolic links during the removal process, it does not properly validate the target of these links before performing operations on them. This creates a window where an attacker can replace a legitimate directory with a symbolic link to a setuid binary, or manipulate the filesystem in such a way that the rmtree function operates on unintended targets. The vulnerability specifically manifests when the module performs operations that require checking directory contents and removing files, creating a temporal gap between when the function determines what to remove and when it actually performs the removal.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability poses a severe threat to systems running affected Perl versions, particularly those where users might have the ability to create or modify files in locations that could be targeted by the rmtree function. The ability to create arbitrary setuid binaries means that local attackers can potentially escalate their privileges to root level access, which would allow them to completely compromise the system. This vulnerability is especially dangerous in environments where Perl scripts are used to manage system directories or where users have the capability to create symbolic links in locations that are later processed by the rmtree function. The regression nature of this vulnerability, as noted in the description, indicates that a previous fix for CVE-2005-0448 was not properly maintained or was inadvertently reintroduced, making this a particularly concerning security regression.
The exploitation of this vulnerability requires careful timing and manipulation of symbolic links in the target directory structure, typically involving the creation of symlinks that point to setuid binaries or other privileged files. Attackers would need to place themselves in a position where they can influence the filesystem structure during the execution of a Perl script that utilizes the vulnerable rmtree function. This attack vector aligns with the ATT&CK framework's privilege escalation techniques, particularly those involving file system manipulation and the creation of malicious symbolic links. The vulnerability also relates to CWE-367, which addresses time-of-check to time-of-use (TOCTOU) race conditions, and CWE-276, which covers improper file permissions. Organizations should immediately patch their Perl installations to versions that contain the corrected File::Path module implementation, and implement monitoring for unusual file system modifications in directories that might be processed by rmtree functions. System administrators should also review existing Perl scripts that might utilize the affected module to ensure they are not operating in environments where such attacks could be mounted.