CVE-2012-6108 in Linux Imaging And Printing Project
Summary
by MITRE
HP Linux Imaging and Printing (HPLIP) before 3.13.2 uses world-writable permissions for /var/log/hp and /var/log/hp/tmp, which allows local users to delete log files via standard filesystem operations.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/03/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2012-6108 affects HP Linux Imaging and Printing (HPLIP) software versions prior to 3.13.2, presenting a significant security weakness in the system's file permission management. This flaw resides in the default configuration of log directory permissions within the HPLIP framework, specifically targeting the /var/log/hp and /var/log/hp/tmp directories. The issue stems from the software's failure to properly secure these critical logging directories, creating an exploitable condition that undermines the integrity and availability of system logging mechanisms.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the creation of world-writable directories that should normally be restricted to prevent unauthorized modifications. When directories are configured with world-writable permissions, any local user possessing basic filesystem access can perform destructive operations including file deletion, modification, or replacement. This particular flaw manifests through standard filesystem operations that would normally be restricted in a secure environment, allowing attackers to manipulate log files without requiring elevated privileges or specialized tools. The vulnerability directly maps to CWE-732, which describes improper limitation of a pathname to a restricted directory, and represents a classic case of inadequate access control implementation.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple file deletion capabilities, as it compromises the fundamental integrity of system logging infrastructure. Local users can exploit this weakness to remove critical log entries that might contain evidence of system compromise, audit trails, or diagnostic information essential for security monitoring. This capability undermines security incident response procedures and can mask malicious activities that would otherwise be detectable through log analysis. The vulnerability particularly affects environments where HPLIP is deployed for printer management, as these systems often run with elevated privileges and maintain logs of user activities and system operations. The potential for privilege escalation or denial of service scenarios increases significantly when log files become tampered with or deleted, as these operations can disrupt system monitoring and forensic analysis capabilities.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2012-6108 should prioritize immediate implementation of proper directory permissions through the standard chmod command to restrict write access to authorized users only. System administrators must ensure that the /var/log/hp and /var/log/hp/tmp directories are configured with restrictive permissions, typically limiting access to root or specific system users. The most effective remediation involves upgrading to HPLIP version 3.13.2 or later, which contains the necessary patches to address the improper permission settings. Security teams should conduct comprehensive audits of all system directories related to printing and imaging services to identify similar permission misconfigurations that might exist elsewhere in the infrastructure. Regular monitoring of log file integrity and implementing automated alerting for unauthorized file modifications can help detect exploitation attempts. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1070.004 for indicator removal and T1562.001 for privilege escalation, making it particularly concerning for environments subject to security compliance requirements such as those governed by iso 27001 or pci dss standards.