CVE-2012-2760 in Mod Auth Openid
Summary
by MITRE
mod_auth_openid before 0.7 for Apache uses world-readable permissions for /tmp/mod_auth_openid.db, which allows local users to obtain session ids.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/14/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2012-2760 affects the mod_auth_openid module for Apache web servers, specifically versions prior to 0.7. This issue represents a critical security flaw in how the module handles temporary session data storage, creating an exploitable condition that undermines the authentication security model. The problem manifests when the module creates a database file named mod_auth_openid.db in the /tmp directory, which is configured with overly permissive world-readable permissions. This configuration allows any local user on the system to access the database file and extract sensitive session identifiers, effectively compromising the authentication mechanism.
The technical flaw stems from improper file permission handling within the mod_auth_openid module implementation. When users authenticate through the module, session information is stored in the /tmp/mod_auth_openid.db file to maintain state across HTTP requests. The module fails to properly set restrictive permissions on this temporary file, leaving it accessible to all users on the system. This design oversight creates a privilege escalation vector where local attackers can read session identifiers and potentially impersonate authenticated users, particularly when the module is used in conjunction with web applications that rely on persistent session management.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it enables unauthorized access to authenticated sessions and can facilitate further attacks within the compromised environment. An attacker with local access can extract session identifiers from the world-readable database file and use them to gain unauthorized access to web applications protected by mod_auth_openid. This vulnerability directly violates security principles outlined in the CWE-732 category, which addresses improper permission assignment, and represents a clear violation of the principle of least privilege. The attack vector is particularly concerning because it requires only local system access, making it accessible to any user with shell privileges on the affected system.
From an attack framework perspective, this vulnerability aligns with techniques described in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under the T1078 category for valid accounts and the T1566 category for credential access. The vulnerability enables attackers to obtain session tokens that can be used to maintain access to web applications without requiring additional authentication credentials. The impact is compounded by the fact that session identifiers stored in this manner are typically long-lived and can be used for extended periods, potentially allowing persistent access to protected resources. Organizations using mod_auth_openid should immediately implement the recommended mitigation by upgrading to version 0.7 or later, which properly implements restrictive file permissions for the session database file, ensuring that only the Apache process can access the sensitive session data.
The vulnerability demonstrates a fundamental security misconfiguration that could be prevented through proper secure coding practices and adherence to security standards such as those defined in the Open Web Application Security Project OWASP guidelines for session management. The issue also highlights the importance of proper temporary file handling in web server modules, as improper file permissions in temporary storage areas can create significant security risks. Organizations should implement regular security audits of their web server configurations and ensure that all temporary files created by authentication modules are properly secured with restrictive permissions to prevent unauthorized access to session data. The fix for this vulnerability specifically addresses the root cause by implementing proper file permission controls, ensuring that the session database file is accessible only to the appropriate system processes and users, thereby maintaining the integrity of the authentication mechanism.