CVE-2011-4606 in Rocks 'n' Diamonds
Summary
by MITRE
Artsoft Entertainment Rocks n Diamonds (aka rocksndiamonds) 3.3.0.1 allows local users to overwrite arbitrary files via a symlink attack on .rocksndiamonds/cache/artworkinfo.cache under a user s home directory.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/28/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2011-4606 affects Artsoft Entertainment Rocks n Diamonds version 3.3.0.1, a popular puzzle game application that allows users to create and play levels. This security flaw represents a classic symlink attack vulnerability that enables local attackers to manipulate file operations within the application's cache directory structure. The vulnerability specifically targets the .rocksndiamonds/cache/artworkinfo.cache file located in the user's home directory, where the application performs insecure file operations that can be exploited by malicious actors.
The technical flaw stems from the application's failure to properly validate file paths during cache file creation and updates. When Rocks n Diamonds initializes or updates its artwork information cache, it does not perform adequate checks to ensure that the target file path does not point to a symbolic link. This insecure practice allows an attacker to create a symbolic link with the same name as the cache file in the application's cache directory, effectively redirecting the application's file write operations to arbitrary locations on the filesystem. The vulnerability manifests as a path traversal issue that falls under the CWE-367 weakness category, specifically CWE-367: Time-of-Check to Time-of-Use (TOCTOU) vulnerability.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is significant for local users who may be exploited by attackers with similar user privileges. An attacker can leverage this flaw to overwrite any file that the application process has write permissions to, potentially leading to privilege escalation scenarios or arbitrary code execution. The attack requires the attacker to have local access to the target system and the ability to create symbolic links in the application's cache directory. However, since many applications run with user privileges, this vulnerability can be particularly dangerous when combined with other local privilege escalation techniques. The attack vector aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.001 for command and scripting interpreter execution, as attackers may use this vulnerability to place malicious files in critical system locations.
This vulnerability demonstrates poor security practices in file handling operations and highlights the importance of implementing proper input validation and file path resolution mechanisms. The application should validate that file paths do not resolve to symbolic links before performing write operations, and should implement atomic file creation procedures that prevent race conditions. Organizations should consider applying the vendor-provided patch or upgrade to a newer version of the application that addresses this vulnerability. System administrators should also implement proper file permissions and monitoring to detect unauthorized file modifications in application cache directories. The vulnerability serves as a reminder of the critical need for secure coding practices, particularly in applications that handle user data and cache files, as it can be exploited to gain unauthorized access to system resources and potentially compromise the entire system.