CVE-2012-0421 in SUSE Manager
Summary
by MITRE
The SUSE Audit Log Keeper daemon before 0.2.1-0.4.6.1 for SUSE Manager and Spacewalk uses world-readable permissions for /etc/auditlog-keeper.conf, which allows local users to obtain passwords by reading this file.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/29/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2012-0421 affects the SUSE Audit Log Keeper daemon version 0.2.1-0.4.6.1 used in SUSE Manager and Spacewalk environments. This issue represents a critical configuration flaw that undermines the security posture of systems relying on audit logging capabilities. The daemon serves as a crucial component for managing and storing audit logs within SUSE-based infrastructure, making its security configuration paramount to overall system integrity.
The technical flaw stems from improper file permission settings where the configuration file /etc/auditlog-keeper.conf is set with world-readable permissions instead of restrictive access controls. This misconfiguration allows any local user on the system to read the file contents without requiring elevated privileges or authentication. The configuration file contains sensitive authentication credentials that are stored in plain text format, creating an immediate privilege escalation vector for malicious actors. This vulnerability directly maps to CWE-732, which describes improper limitation of a privilege to a resource, and represents a fundamental failure in principle of least privilege implementation.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple credential exposure, as local users can exploit this weakness to gain unauthorized access to audit logging systems. Attackers can leverage the exposed passwords to manipulate audit records, potentially covering their tracks or gaining deeper access to system resources. The compromise of audit logging functionality undermines the fundamental security monitoring capabilities that organizations rely upon for compliance, forensic analysis, and intrusion detection. This vulnerability affects organizations using SUSE Manager and Spacewalk platforms, creating a significant risk for enterprises that depend on these systems for configuration management and monitoring.
The exploitation of this vulnerability requires minimal technical skill and can be accomplished through standard file reading operations available to any local user. This makes the attack surface particularly broad and increases the likelihood of successful exploitation. The configuration file typically contains database connection strings, API keys, and authentication tokens that provide access to critical backend systems. Organizations using these platforms face potential data breaches, compliance violations, and operational disruptions when this vulnerability remains unpatched. Mitigation strategies should focus on immediate permission correction followed by comprehensive security auditing of similar configuration files across the infrastructure.
Organizations should implement regular security assessments to identify and remediate similar permission misconfigurations throughout their systems. The vulnerability highlights the importance of automated security scanning tools and configuration management practices that enforce secure default settings. System administrators should establish baseline security configurations that prevent world-readable permissions for sensitive files containing authentication credentials. This incident demonstrates the critical importance of proper file access controls and the potential consequences of neglecting basic security hygiene practices in system administration. The vulnerability serves as a reminder that simple misconfigurations can have severe security implications, particularly in environments where audit logging and system monitoring are essential for maintaining operational security.