CVE-2012-0863 in Mumble
Summary
by MITRE
Mumble 1.2.3 and earlier uses world-readable permissions for .local/share/data/Mumble/.mumble.sqlite files in home directories, which might allow local users to obtain a cleartext password and configuration data by reading a file.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/01/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2012-0863 affects Mumble versions 1.2.3 and earlier, specifically targeting the file system permissions of database files within user home directories. This issue represents a critical security flaw that undermines the confidentiality of sensitive user data stored locally on systems. The affected file path .local/share/data/Mumble/.mumble.sqlite contains cleartext passwords and configuration information that should remain protected from unauthorized access. The vulnerability stems from improper file permission settings that grant world-readable access to these critical database files, allowing any local user on the system to access the stored information without authentication. This flaw directly violates fundamental security principles of data protection and access control, creating potential attack vectors for local adversaries who may exploit this misconfiguration to gain unauthorized access to communication credentials and system settings. The impact extends beyond simple data exposure as these passwords could potentially be used to access other systems or services where the same credentials are employed, creating a cascading security risk for users who maintain consistent authentication practices across their digital environment.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the application's failure to properly secure database files during the installation or runtime process. When Mumble creates its local database file at .local/share/data/Mumble/.mumble.sqlite, it does not enforce restrictive file permissions that would prevent unauthorized access. This misconfiguration results in the file being created with permissions that allow read access to all users on the system, effectively making the database file world-readable. The database contains cleartext passwords, which represents a severe security weakness since password hashing or encryption mechanisms are not properly applied to protect these credentials. This issue aligns with CWE-732, which describes improper permission assignment, and demonstrates how inadequate access control mechanisms can expose sensitive information. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it operates at the file system level and requires no special privileges to exploit, making it accessible to any local user with basic system access. The design flaw occurs during the application's initialization phase when it creates persistent storage for user preferences and authentication data, failing to consider the security implications of the default file permissions.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends significantly beyond the immediate exposure of password information. Local users who can read the database file gain access to complete configuration data, including server connections, user preferences, and potentially other sensitive information stored within the Mumble application's local storage. This exposure creates opportunities for credential theft, session hijacking, and potential privilege escalation within the communication environment. The cleartext nature of the stored passwords means that even if users employ strong password policies, the vulnerability renders these protections ineffective since attackers can directly access the password values without needing to perform password cracking or other time-consuming attacks. The implications are particularly severe in multi-user environments where different users share the same system or where users have varying levels of access privileges. Attackers could exploit this vulnerability to establish persistent access to communication channels, potentially intercepting or manipulating communications between users. This vulnerability also enables social engineering attacks where attackers might use the exposed configuration data to craft more convincing phishing attempts or impersonation attacks. The attack surface expands when considering that these credentials might be reused across multiple services, creating additional attack vectors for lateral movement within compromised networks. The vulnerability affects the integrity and confidentiality of the entire Mumble communication ecosystem, undermining trust in the application's security model.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2012-0863 require immediate implementation of proper file system access controls and application-level security measures. The most effective immediate solution involves updating to Mumble version 1.2.4 or later, which includes patches addressing the improper file permission handling. System administrators should also implement manual permission fixes by ensuring that the database file .mumble.sqlite is created with restrictive permissions such as 600, which grants read and write access only to the file owner. This approach aligns with the principle of least privilege and follows established security practices for protecting sensitive data. Regular security audits should be conducted to verify that similar permission issues do not exist in other application data files or configuration directories. Additional protective measures include implementing proper file system monitoring to detect unauthorized access attempts to sensitive files and establishing automated systems to enforce correct file permissions. Organizations should also consider implementing mandatory access controls or security modules that prevent applications from creating files with insecure permissions. The remediation process must include user education regarding the importance of secure password management and the risks associated with local privilege escalation. Security frameworks such as the ATT&CK matrix would categorize this vulnerability under privilege escalation techniques, specifically targeting local account access and credential access phases. Regular system hardening procedures should be implemented to ensure that all applications properly secure their local data storage and enforce appropriate access controls. The vulnerability also underscores the importance of proper software security testing during development phases, particularly focusing on file system interactions and access control implementation.