CVE-2009-4145 in NetworkManager
Summary
by MITRE
nm-connection-editor in NetworkManager (NM) 0.7.x exports connection objects over D-Bus upon actions in the connection editor GUI, which allows local users to obtain sensitive information by reading D-Bus signals, as demonstrated by using dbus-monitor to discover the password for the WiFi network.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/30/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2009-4145 represents a critical information disclosure flaw within NetworkManager's nm-connection-editor component. This issue affects NetworkManager versions 0.7.x where the connection editor GUI exposes connection objects through D-Bus interfaces without proper access controls or sanitization of sensitive data. The flaw stems from the design decision to broadcast connection details including authentication credentials over D-Bus when users interact with the graphical interface, creating an unintended information leakage channel that bypasses normal security boundaries.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the D-Bus communication layer within NetworkManager where the nm-connection-editor component publishes connection objects containing plaintext passwords, encryption keys, and other sensitive network authentication details. When local users execute commands such as dbus-monitor, they can intercept these D-Bus signals and extract the exposed credentials, effectively allowing any local user to obtain network authentication information without requiring elevated privileges or authentication. This represents a direct violation of the principle of least privilege and demonstrates how GUI components can inadvertently create security vulnerabilities through improper interface design.
The operational impact of CVE-2009-4145 extends beyond simple credential exposure to encompass broader security implications for networked environments. Local users can exploit this vulnerability to gain unauthorized access to wireless networks, potentially leading to man-in-the-middle attacks, network infiltration, and data exfiltration. The vulnerability affects systems where NetworkManager is deployed with graphical interfaces, making it particularly relevant in desktop environments and workstations where users may have local access but should not possess network administrative privileges. This flaw aligns with CWE-200 (Information Exposure) and represents a classic case of insufficient access control in inter-process communication mechanisms.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on implementing proper D-Bus access controls and data sanitization within NetworkManager's connection editor component. System administrators should ensure that NetworkManager is updated to versions that address this specific information disclosure issue, typically through patches that implement proper access control lists for D-Bus interfaces or sanitize sensitive data before publication. The solution involves modifying the D-Bus signal emission logic to exclude authentication credentials and other sensitive information from being exposed to unauthorized local processes, thereby aligning with ATT&CK technique T1074.001 (Data Staged) and addressing the underlying security architecture flaw that enables local privilege escalation through information disclosure. Organizations should also implement monitoring solutions to detect unauthorized D-Bus signal interception and consider disabling unnecessary GUI components on systems where local users should not have access to network configuration details.