CVE-2010-3359 in gargoyle-free
Summary
by MITRE
If LD_LIBRARY_PATH is undefined in gargoyle-free before 2009-08-25, the variable will point to the current directory. This can allow a local user to trick another user into running gargoyle in a directory with a cracked libgarglk.so and gain access to the user's account.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/11/2024
The vulnerability described in CVE-2010-3359 represents a classic path traversal and privilege escalation issue affecting the gargoyle-free software package. This flaw emerged from a critical design oversight in how the software handled dynamic library loading when the LD_LIBRARY_PATH environment variable was not explicitly defined. The vulnerability specifically targeted systems where gargoyle-free was executed without a properly configured library path, creating an exploitable condition that could be leveraged by local attackers to gain unauthorized access to user accounts.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability stems from the improper handling of environment variables during program execution, particularly the LD_LIBRARY_PATH variable that controls where the system looks for shared libraries. When this variable remains undefined, the system defaults to using the current working directory as a library search path, which creates a dangerous situation where malicious actors can place specially crafted shared libraries in directories where target programs execute. This behavior aligns with CWE-426, which addresses the dangerous use of setuid programs and improper environment handling, and represents a direct violation of secure coding practices for library loading mechanisms.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple local privilege escalation to encompass potential account compromise and persistent access to target systems. Attackers exploiting this flaw could craft malicious libgarglk.so shared libraries that would be loaded in place of legitimate system libraries when gargoyle-free executes, allowing them to execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the user running the program. This creates a significant risk for systems where gargoyle-free might be executed by users with elevated privileges or in environments where users might be tricked into executing the program in compromised directories, making it a particularly dangerous vulnerability in multi-user systems.
The exploitation of this vulnerability requires minimal technical sophistication but relies heavily on social engineering elements to successfully trick users into running gargoyle-free in directories containing malicious libraries. This attack vector demonstrates how seemingly innocuous environment variable handling can create serious security implications, particularly when combined with programs that execute with elevated privileges or access to sensitive user data. The vulnerability highlights the importance of proper environment variable sanitization and secure library loading practices, aligning with ATT&CK technique T1059 for execution through command and scripting interpreters, and T1548 for privilege escalation through environment manipulation. Organizations should implement strict library path controls, ensure proper environment variable handling in all executables, and consider implementing mandatory access controls to prevent unauthorized library loading, particularly for setuid programs and system utilities that may be executed by multiple users.