CVE-2013-1910 in yum
Summary
by MITRE
yum does not properly handle bad metadata, which allows an attacker to cause a denial of service and possibly have other unspecified impact via a Trojan horse file in the metadata of a remote repository.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/01/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2013-1910 affects the yum package manager used primarily in red hat enterprise linux and centos systems for managing software packages. This flaw resides in how yum processes metadata from remote repositories, specifically failing to properly validate or sanitize the metadata content before processing it. The issue stems from insufficient input validation mechanisms within the yum metadata handling code, creating a potential attack vector where malicious actors can manipulate repository metadata to exploit the package manager's processing logic. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it operates at the package management layer where system administrators trust repository metadata to accurately represent available software packages and their dependencies.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability allows an attacker to craft malicious metadata files that contain malformed or deceptive entries which can cause yum to behave unexpectedly when attempting to process these repository descriptions. When yum encounters such malformed metadata, it can fail to properly parse the information, leading to potential crashes or denial of service conditions that prevent legitimate package management operations. The flaw operates through a combination of improper error handling and inadequate validation of metadata structure, where the package manager does not adequately check the integrity or consistency of repository metadata before attempting to process it. This can result in memory corruption scenarios or infinite loops within the yum processing logic when it encounters unexpected metadata formats. The vulnerability is classified under common weakness enumeration CWE-20 as "improper input validation" and aligns with attack techniques from the attack tree framework where adversaries can leverage package management systems to disrupt service availability.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple denial of service conditions as it can potentially enable more sophisticated attacks depending on the execution environment and system configuration. When systems cannot properly process repository metadata, administrators lose the ability to update or install packages from affected repositories, effectively creating a service disruption that can impact system security and maintenance operations. The vulnerability can be particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where automated patch management systems rely on yum to maintain system integrity and security posture. Organizations may experience cascading failures when multiple systems attempt to process malicious metadata simultaneously, leading to widespread service disruption. The potential for additional unspecified impacts suggests that this vulnerability could potentially be exploited to execute arbitrary code or escalate privileges, though specific exploitation details are not publicly documented for this particular CVE. This makes the vulnerability particularly concerning for security-conscious organizations that depend on automated package management workflows and repository synchronization processes.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2013-1910 should focus on implementing robust repository validation mechanisms and network security controls to prevent unauthorized modification of repository metadata. System administrators should ensure that yum repositories are properly secured through HTTPS connections with certificate validation, and implement repository mirroring strategies that include integrity checks for metadata files. The implementation of proper access controls and monitoring for repository modifications can help detect potential exploitation attempts. Organizations should also consider implementing network segmentation and firewall rules to limit access to package repositories from untrusted networks. Additionally, maintaining up-to-date yum versions that include patches for this vulnerability is essential, as the flaw was addressed in subsequent releases through improved metadata validation and error handling mechanisms. Regular security audits of package management systems and repository configurations should be conducted to identify potential vulnerabilities in the supply chain that could be exploited through similar means. The remediation process should include comprehensive testing of repository metadata validation procedures to ensure that systems properly handle malformed inputs without crashing or exhibiting unexpected behavior.