CVE-2013-3709 in WebYaST
Summary
by MITRE
WebYaST 1.3 uses weak permissions for config/initializers/secret_token.rb, which allows local users to gain privileges by reading the Rails secret token from this file.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/18/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2013-3709 affects WebYaST version 1.3, a system management tool designed for enterprise environments. This issue represents a critical misconfiguration that undermines the security foundation of the application by exposing sensitive cryptographic material through improper file permissions. The affected file config/initializers/secret_token.rb contains the Rails secret token, a crucial component for maintaining application security and user session integrity within Ruby on Rails applications.
The technical flaw stems from the weak file permissions assigned to the secret_token.rb configuration file, which allows local users to read its contents without proper authorization. This represents a classic privilege escalation vulnerability where an attacker with local access can obtain the secret token used by the Rails application for session management, cryptographic signing, and other security-sensitive operations. The secret token serves as the foundation for Rails' security mechanisms including CSRF protection, session encryption, and parameter authenticity verification. When this token becomes compromised, attackers can forge session cookies, manipulate application behavior, and potentially escalate their privileges within the system.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it creates a pathway for attackers to compromise the entire WebYaST application and potentially the underlying system. Local users who can read this file can leverage the secret token to impersonate legitimate users, modify system configurations, and gain unauthorized access to administrative functions. This vulnerability directly relates to CWE-276, which describes improper file permissions, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1068, which involves exploiting local system privileges. The exposure of the secret token enables attackers to perform session hijacking attacks and bypass authentication mechanisms that rely on Rails' built-in security features.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on implementing proper file access controls and adhering to security best practices for application configuration management. System administrators must ensure that configuration files containing sensitive information like secret tokens are protected with appropriate permissions that restrict access to authorized users only. The recommended approach involves setting restrictive file permissions such as 600 or 640 on the secret_token.rb file, ensuring that only the application user and system administrators can access the file. Additionally, organizations should implement regular security audits to verify that configuration files maintain appropriate access controls and consider implementing automated monitoring tools to detect unauthorized access attempts. This vulnerability underscores the importance of following the principle of least privilege and demonstrates how seemingly minor configuration oversights can create significant security risks in enterprise management systems.