CVE-2012-2389 in hostapd
Summary
by MITRE
hostapd 0.7.3, and possibly other versions before 1.0, uses 0644 permissions for /etc/hostapd/hostapd.conf, which might allow local users to obtain sensitive information such as credentials.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/05/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2012-2389 affects hostapd versions prior to 1.0, specifically version 0.7.3, and represents a significant security flaw in wireless access point configuration management. This issue stems from improper file permission settings that create an avenue for privilege escalation and information disclosure. The hostapd daemon, which serves as a wireless access point daemon for Linux systems, is responsible for managing wireless network configurations and authentication processes. When the daemon creates its configuration file at /etc/hostapd/hostapd.conf with 0644 permissions, it establishes a security boundary that inadvertently exposes sensitive network credentials to unauthorized local users. This configuration flaw allows any local user on the system to read the configuration file and extract potentially critical authentication information, including passwords and network keys that could be used to compromise wireless network security.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the hostapd daemon's default behavior of creating configuration files with world-readable permissions, which violates fundamental security principles of least privilege and proper access control. The 0644 permission setting grants read access to all users on the system while restricting write access to the owner, but this still permits any local user to access the sensitive information contained within the configuration file. The vulnerability directly maps to CWE-732, which describes improper permission assignment for critical resources, and represents a classic case of inadequate access control implementation. The flaw demonstrates how seemingly innocuous configuration management decisions can create significant security risks when they fail to consider the potential impact of file access patterns on system security.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability creates substantial risk for organizations relying on hostapd for wireless network management, as it allows local attackers to escalate privileges and gain unauthorized access to network credentials. The impact extends beyond simple information disclosure, as the extracted credentials could be used to authenticate to wireless networks, potentially enabling lateral movement within networks or access to restricted resources. The vulnerability is particularly concerning in multi-user environments where system administrators may not fully understand the implications of default file permissions. Security practitioners must consider this issue in the context of the ATT&CK framework, specifically under the T1005 collection tactic and T1078 valid accounts technique, as local users can leverage this vulnerability to obtain legitimate network credentials. The risk is compounded by the fact that many organizations may not regularly audit their system configurations, allowing such permission issues to persist undetected for extended periods.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2012-2389 should focus on immediate remediation through proper file permission management and long-term configuration hardening. The primary fix involves updating hostapd to version 1.0 or later, where the default behavior has been corrected to use more restrictive file permissions. Organizations should also implement systematic configuration audits to identify and correct similar permission issues across their infrastructure. Additional mitigations include setting appropriate umask values during daemon startup to ensure sensitive files are created with restricted permissions, implementing regular file permission monitoring, and establishing security baseline configurations that enforce proper access controls. System administrators should consider implementing automated security scanning tools that can detect and alert on improper file permissions, as well as conducting regular security training to ensure personnel understand the importance of proper file access controls. The vulnerability underscores the critical need for security by design principles in system configuration management and highlights the importance of adhering to security standards such as those outlined in the NIST Cybersecurity Framework and ISO 27001 requirements for access control management.