CVE-2012-6088 in rpm
Summary
by MITRE
The rpmpkgRead function in lib/package.c in RPM 4.10.x before 4.10.2 does not return an error code in certain situations involving an "unparseable signature," which allows remote attackers to bypass RPM signature checks via a crafted package.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/21/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2012-6088 resides within the RPM package management system, specifically in the rpmpkgRead function located in lib/package.c of RPM versions 4.10.x before 4.10.2. This flaw represents a critical security weakness that undermines the integrity verification mechanisms inherent to RPM package management. The issue manifests when the system encounters an "unparseable signature" during package processing, creating a scenario where the function fails to properly report the error condition to the calling application.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from inadequate error handling within the RPM signature verification process. When RPM attempts to read and validate package signatures, it should consistently return appropriate error codes to indicate signature failures or parsing issues. However, in affected versions, the rpmpkgRead function exhibits a failure to propagate error codes when encountering unparseable signatures, effectively allowing malformed or malicious packages to pass through the signature verification process without proper detection. This behavior creates a fundamental breach in the package integrity verification system that RPM relies upon for security.
From an operational standpoint, this vulnerability presents significant risks to system security and integrity. Remote attackers can exploit this weakness by crafting malicious RPM packages that contain unparseable signatures, enabling them to bypass the signature verification checks that are designed to ensure package authenticity and integrity. The implications extend beyond simple package installation, as successful exploitation could allow attackers to install malicious software that appears to be properly signed and verified. This attack vector directly undermines the trust model that RPM systems depend upon for secure package management and can lead to privilege escalation, system compromise, or other malicious activities that leverage compromised package installations.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-252, which addresses "Unchecked Return Value," as the function fails to properly validate or report the outcome of signature parsing operations. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this weakness maps to T1553.002 - "Subvert Trust Controls: Code Signing" and T1068 - "Exploitation for Privilege Escalation," as it enables adversaries to bypass code signing mechanisms and potentially gain elevated privileges through compromised package installations. The impact is particularly severe in enterprise environments where RPM-based systems are commonly used for software distribution and management, as it allows attackers to introduce malicious payloads that can evade detection mechanisms.
Mitigation strategies should focus on immediate patching of affected RPM versions to 4.10.2 or later, which contains the necessary fixes to properly handle error codes during signature parsing. Organizations should also implement additional verification mechanisms such as checksum validation, digital signature verification using alternative tools, and monitoring for suspicious package installations. Security teams should conduct comprehensive audits of package repositories to identify any potentially compromised packages and establish more robust package integrity verification processes that do not rely solely on the vulnerable RPM signature checking mechanism. Additionally, system administrators should consider implementing network-level controls and package filtering rules to prevent installation of unsigned or untrusted packages, even when the underlying signature verification system fails.