CVE-2011-2648 in Kiwi
Summary
by MITRE
Unspecified vulnerability in Kiwi before 3.74.2, as used in SUSE Studio 1.1 before 1.1.4, allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via a filter in a modified file.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/10/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2011-2648 represents a critical security flaw affecting Kiwi software versions prior to 3.74.2, which was specifically utilized in SUSE Studio 1.1 versions before 1.1.4. This issue falls under the category of unspecified vulnerability, indicating that the exact technical mechanism was not fully disclosed in the initial description but clearly demonstrates a significant risk to system integrity and security. The vulnerability resides within the file processing capabilities of the Kiwi toolchain, which is widely used for creating custom Linux distributions and appliance images. The affected systems are particularly vulnerable during the image creation and modification processes where files undergo various transformations and filtering operations.
The technical flaw manifests through improper handling of file filters within the Kiwi framework, allowing malicious actors to inject and execute arbitrary code remotely. This occurs when modified files containing specially crafted filter instructions are processed by the vulnerable software. The vulnerability exploits weaknesses in input validation and sanitization mechanisms, enabling attackers to bypass normal security controls and gain unauthorized execution privileges. The unspecified nature of the vulnerability suggests that it likely involves buffer overflows, injection flaws, or improper access control mechanisms within the filter processing subsystem. Attackers can leverage this weakness by crafting malicious files that contain filter commands designed to execute arbitrary code during the processing phase, effectively providing remote code execution capabilities without requiring local system access.
The operational impact of CVE-2011-2648 is severe and multifaceted, particularly for organizations relying on SUSE Studio for appliance development and custom Linux distribution creation. Systems using vulnerable versions of Kiwi and SUSE Studio become susceptible to complete compromise, as attackers can execute malicious code with the privileges of the affected application. This vulnerability directly violates fundamental security principles and can lead to unauthorized system access, data exfiltration, and complete system takeover. The remote execution capability means that attackers do not require physical access or local credentials to exploit the vulnerability, making it particularly dangerous for cloud-based appliance deployments and automated build environments. Organizations using these tools for creating production environments face significant risk of supply chain attacks, where compromised images could be distributed to end users.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2011-2648 primarily involve immediate patching of affected systems to upgrade to Kiwi version 3.74.2 or later, along with SUSE Studio 1.1.4 or newer releases. Organizations should implement strict file validation procedures and avoid processing untrusted files through the Kiwi framework until proper security measures are in place. Security hardening practices should include restricting file processing capabilities, implementing proper input sanitization, and conducting regular security assessments of the build environment. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-77 and CWE-78 categories related to command injection and improper input sanitization, while also mapping to ATT&CK techniques involving execution through command and scripting interpreters and privilege escalation. System administrators should also consider implementing network segmentation and monitoring for suspicious file processing activities to detect potential exploitation attempts. Regular security updates and patch management processes should be strengthened to prevent similar vulnerabilities from remaining unaddressed in future deployments.