CVE-2012-5530 in Performance Co-Pilot
Summary
by MITRE
The (1) pcmd and (2) pmlogger init scripts in Performance Co-Pilot (PCP) before 3.6.10 allow local users to overwrite arbitrary files via a symlink attack on a /var/tmp/##### temporary file.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/20/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2012-5530 affects Performance Co-Pilot (PCP) versions prior to 3.6.10 and represents a critical security flaw in the initialization scripts that govern performance monitoring operations. This issue specifically impacts the pcmd and pmlogger init scripts, which are fundamental components responsible for managing performance data collection and logging processes within the PCP framework. The vulnerability stems from improper handling of temporary files during script execution, creating a window of opportunity for local attackers to exploit the system through symbolic link manipulation techniques.
The technical flaw manifests through a race condition vulnerability where the init scripts create temporary files in the /var/tmp/ directory without proper security checks or atomic operations. When these scripts execute, they generate temporary files with predictable names such as /var/tmp/##### where the hash symbols represent a pattern that can be anticipated by an attacker. The vulnerability occurs because the scripts do not validate whether these temporary files are legitimate or have been replaced with symbolic links by an attacker. This creates a classic symlink attack scenario where a malicious user can establish symbolic links pointing to sensitive system files before the legitimate script creates its temporary file, resulting in arbitrary file overwrite operations.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple file overwrites, as it provides local attackers with the capability to modify critical system files, potentially leading to privilege escalation or complete system compromise. Attackers can leverage this weakness to replace configuration files, executable binaries, or system logs with malicious content, thereby enabling persistent access or data manipulation. The vulnerability affects any system running affected PCP versions where local users have the ability to create symbolic links in the /var/tmp/ directory, which is typically accessible to all users on Unix-like systems. This makes the attack surface particularly broad and concerning for production environments where performance monitoring is critical.
The weakness aligns with CWE-367, which describes the Time-of-Check to Time-of-Use (TOCTOU) vulnerability pattern, where the security decision is made based on outdated information. This vulnerability also maps to ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for execution through scripts and T1068 for local privilege escalation through exploitation of system vulnerabilities. The attack vector specifically relates to privilege escalation through local system compromise and represents a significant concern for system administrators who rely on PCP for monitoring critical infrastructure performance. Organizations should immediately implement mitigations including upgrading to PCP version 3.6.10 or later, implementing proper file permission controls, and monitoring for suspicious symbolic link creation in temporary directories. Additionally, system administrators should consider implementing file integrity monitoring solutions to detect unauthorized modifications to critical system files that could result from exploitation of this vulnerability.