CVE-2012-6348 in Centrify Suite
Summary
by MITRE
Centrify Deployment Manager 2.1.0.283, as distributed in Centrify Suite before 2012.5, allows local users to (1) overwrite arbitrary files via a symlink attack on the adcheckDMoutput temporary file, or (2) overwrite arbitrary files and consequently gain privileges via a symlink attack on the centrify.cmd.0 temporary file.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/03/2024
CVE-2012-6348 represents a critical local privilege escalation vulnerability affecting Centrify Deployment Manager 2.1.0.283 in Centrify Suite versions prior to 2012.5. This vulnerability stems from insecure temporary file handling practices that enable local attackers to manipulate system files through symbolic link attacks. The flaw manifests in two distinct attack vectors that leverage the predictable naming of temporary files and insufficient permission checks during file operations. The first vector targets the adcheckDMoutput temporary file, while the second targets the centrify.cmd.0 temporary file, both of which are created with inadequate security controls that make them susceptible to symlink-based exploitation.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability follows a classic symlink attack pattern that exploits the time-of-check to time-of-use (TOCTOU) race condition. When the Centrify Deployment Manager processes certain operations, it creates temporary files in predictable locations without proper validation of the file system state. Local attackers can create symbolic links with the same names as these temporary files in the directories where they are expected to be created. When the application attempts to write to these files, it follows the symbolic links and writes data to arbitrary locations specified by the attacker, potentially overwriting critical system files or executables. This behavior directly aligns with CWE-376, which addresses the creation of temporary files with insecure permissions and predictable names, and also maps to ATT&CK technique T1055.001 for privilege escalation through dynamic link library injection.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple file overwrites to include significant privilege escalation capabilities. When attackers exploit the centrify.cmd.0 temporary file vulnerability, they can overwrite executable files that are subsequently executed with elevated privileges, potentially allowing them to gain administrative access to the system. This creates a substantial risk for environments where Centrify is used for identity management and access control, as local users could leverage this vulnerability to compromise the entire system. The vulnerability affects systems where Centrify Suite is installed and running with sufficient privileges to create temporary files, making it particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where such software is commonly deployed for centralized authentication and authorization management.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2012-6348 should focus on both immediate patching and operational security improvements. Organizations must upgrade to Centrify Suite 2012.5 or later versions where this vulnerability has been addressed through proper temporary file handling and secure file creation practices. System administrators should also implement additional controls such as restricting write permissions to temporary directories, monitoring for suspicious symbolic link creation, and ensuring that all temporary file operations use unique, unpredictable naming schemes. The vulnerability highlights the importance of secure coding practices around temporary file management and demonstrates why organizations should regularly audit their software for insecure file handling patterns. Network segmentation and least privilege principles can further reduce the attack surface by limiting the potential impact of such local privilege escalation vulnerabilities in the event that patching cannot be immediately implemented.