CVE-2010-2027 in Mathematica
Summary
by MITRE
Mathematica 7, when running on Linux, allows local users to overwrite arbitrary files via a symlink attack on (1) files within /tmp/MathLink/ or (2) /tmp/fonts$$.conf.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/05/2019
The vulnerability described in CVE-2010-2027 represents a critical local privilege escalation risk within Mathematica 7 running on Linux systems. This flaw stems from improper handling of temporary files and symbolic links, creating a race condition that allows unprivileged local users to manipulate the file system in ways that could lead to arbitrary code execution or data compromise. The issue specifically affects the temporary file management mechanisms used by Mathematica during its operation, particularly within the /tmp directory structure where temporary files are created for inter-process communication and font configuration.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability exploits a classic symlink attack pattern where an attacker creates malicious symbolic links in strategic locations before the vulnerable application attempts to write to those paths. In this case, the attack targets two specific temporary directories: /tmp/MathLink/ and /tmp/fonts$$.conf. When Mathematica 7 attempts to create or modify files in these locations, it does not properly validate whether the target paths are symbolic links or if they point to locations outside the intended scope. This lack of proper validation creates a window of opportunity for attackers to redirect file operations to arbitrary locations on the file system, potentially allowing them to overwrite critical system files or configuration data.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple file overwrites, as it can enable attackers to escalate privileges or compromise the integrity of the entire system. By carefully crafting symbolic links in the targeted temporary directories, a local attacker could potentially overwrite system configuration files, executable binaries, or other sensitive data. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it operates entirely within the context of a local user account, requiring no elevated privileges to exploit. This characteristic aligns with the attack pattern described in the ATT&CK framework under the T1068 technique for Local Privilege Escalation and T1059 for Command and Scripting Interpreter usage. The CWE-377 weakness classification applies here as the vulnerability stems from the use of unsafe temporary file creation methods that expose the system to symlink-based attacks.
The implications of this vulnerability become more severe when considering that Mathematica is often used in research and academic environments where users may have legitimate access to the system but should not be able to compromise system integrity. Attackers could potentially use this vulnerability to modify font configuration files to inject malicious code, or to overwrite other temporary files that might be processed by other system components. The attack vector is particularly stealthy because it operates silently in the background, making detection difficult without proper monitoring of temporary file creation patterns and symbolic link manipulation. Organizations running Mathematica 7 on Linux systems should implement immediate mitigations including restricting write permissions to the affected temporary directories, implementing proper file validation mechanisms, and considering the use of more secure temporary file creation methods that prevent the race condition exploitation. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of proper sandboxing techniques and secure coding practices in applications that handle temporary file operations, particularly those that may be used in multi-user environments where privilege separation is critical.