CVE-2011-1500 in Pithos
Summary
by MITRE
PreferencesPithosDialog.py in Pithos 0.3.7 does not properly restrict permissions for the .config/pithos.ini file in a user s home directory, which allows local users to obtain Pandora credentials by reading this file.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/09/2019
The vulnerability described in CVE-2011-1500 represents a critical privilege escalation and information disclosure issue within the Pithos music streaming client version 0.3.7. This flaw exists in the PreferencesPithosDialog.py component which handles the configuration file management for the application. The vulnerability stems from improper file permission handling during the creation or modification of the .config/pithos.ini configuration file in users' home directories. When the application creates this file, it fails to establish appropriate access controls, leaving the file world-readable and accessible to any local user on the system.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the application's failure to set restrictive file permissions on the configuration file that stores sensitive authentication credentials for the Pandora music service. The .config/pithos.ini file contains user credentials that are necessary for the application to maintain access to their Pandora accounts. Due to the inadequate permission settings, any local user on the system can read this file using standard file reading operations. This represents a direct violation of the principle of least privilege and creates an attack surface that allows unauthorized information disclosure. The vulnerability is classified as a permissions flaw under CWE-732, which specifically addresses incorrect permissions for critical resources, and aligns with the broader category of insecure file handling practices.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is significant as it enables local privilege escalation and credential theft attacks. Any user with access to the system can exploit this weakness to obtain valid Pandora credentials that can be used for unauthorized account access and potential financial fraud. The attack vector is particularly concerning because it requires no network connectivity or external attack surface - the vulnerability exists purely within the local system context. This makes it difficult to detect and defend against, as the attack occurs entirely within the user's local environment. The compromise of these credentials could lead to unauthorized streaming usage, account takeovers, and potential data breaches that align with tactics described in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under T1566 for credential access and T1078 for valid accounts.
The mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on implementing proper file permission controls during configuration file creation. System administrators should ensure that all configuration files containing sensitive information are created with restrictive permissions, typically limiting access to the owning user only. The application should be updated to enforce proper umask settings or explicitly set file permissions using chmod operations during file creation. Additionally, implementing a more robust configuration management system that encrypts sensitive data within configuration files would provide defense-in-depth protection. Regular security audits of application code should include checks for proper file permission handling and adherence to secure coding practices. Organizations should also consider implementing monitoring solutions that can detect unauthorized access attempts to sensitive configuration files, particularly those containing authentication credentials. The vulnerability highlights the importance of following secure coding guidelines and proper input validation to prevent such information disclosure scenarios.