CVE-2010-4001 in Gromacs
Summary
by MITRE
** DISPUTED ** GMXRC.bash in Gromacs 4.5.1 and earlier places a zero-length directory name in the LD_LIBRARY_PATH, which allows local users to gain privileges via a Trojan horse shared library in the current working directory. NOTE: CVE disputes this issue because the GMXLDLIB value is always added to the beginning of LD_LIBRARY_PATH at a later point in the script.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/07/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2010-4001 relates to a privilege escalation flaw in Gromacs version 4.5.1 and earlier, specifically within the GMXRC.bash script that manages library paths for the molecular dynamics simulation software. This issue arises from improper handling of the LD_LIBRARY_PATH environment variable during script execution, creating a potential security vector for local attackers to execute malicious code with elevated privileges. The vulnerability stems from the script's behavior of incorporating a zero-length directory name into the library search path, which fundamentally undermines the security model of dynamic library loading.
The technical flaw occurs when the GMXRC.bash script processes the GMXLDLIB environment variable and places it at the beginning of LD_LIBRARY_PATH, but the script fails to properly validate or sanitize directory names that may be empty or contain special characters. This creates an environment where a malicious actor can place a Trojan horse shared library in the current working directory, which will then be loaded before system libraries due to the zero-length directory entry in the path. The vulnerability specifically leverages the order of library search in Unix-like systems where the first matching library is loaded, regardless of whether it's a legitimate system library or a malicious replacement.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability allows local users to gain elevated privileges through privilege escalation attacks, potentially enabling them to execute arbitrary code with the permissions of the target user or system process. The attack vector requires the local user to have the ability to place files in the current working directory where the vulnerable Gromacs script is executed, which is typically feasible in shared or multi-user environments where users can write to directories or where scripts are executed with elevated privileges. The impact extends beyond simple privilege escalation to potentially allow full system compromise, particularly when Gromacs is used in high-privilege contexts or when the vulnerable script is executed by system administrators.
The vulnerability demonstrates a classic improper input validation issue that aligns with CWE-252, which covers "Unchecked Return Value" and related privilege escalation flaws. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this maps to privilege escalation techniques involving environment variable manipulation and library injection, specifically T1055.001 for "Process Injection" and T1546.008 for "Environment Variables." The issue also reflects poor security practices in handling dynamic library loading, which should always validate and sanitize all paths before incorporating them into critical system variables like LD_LIBRARY_PATH.
Security mitigations for this vulnerability primarily focus on ensuring proper input validation and sanitization within the script. The most effective approach involves modifying the GMXRC.bash script to validate all directory entries in LD_LIBRARY_PATH and reject any zero-length or malformed paths before incorporating them into the environment variable. Additionally, administrators should implement strict file permissions and directory access controls to prevent unauthorized users from placing malicious libraries in potentially vulnerable locations. The recommended long-term solution involves updating to Gromacs versions that have properly addressed this issue, as the original vulnerability was acknowledged by the vendor to be present in versions up to 4.5.1. Organizations should also consider implementing automated security scanning tools that can detect similar patterns in other scripts and applications that manipulate LD_LIBRARY_PATH or similar environment variables.