CVE-2013-4159 in OpenSUSE
Summary
by MITRE
ctdb before 2.3 in OpenSUSE 12.3 and 13.1 does not create temporary files securely, which has unspecified impact related to "several temp file vulnerabilities" in (1) tcp/tcp_connect.c, (2) server/eventscript.c, (3) tools/ctdb_diagnostics, (4) config/gdb_backtrace, and (5) include/ctdb_private.h.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/25/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2013-4159 affects the ctdb component in OpenSUSE 12.3 and 13.1, representing a critical security flaw in temporary file handling mechanisms. This issue stems from the improper creation of temporary files during the operation of the Clustered Trivial Database system, which serves as a crucial component for managing clustered data in distributed environments. The vulnerability exists in multiple source files including tcp/tcp_connect.c, server/eventscript.c, tools/ctdb_diagnostics, config/gdb_backtrace, and include/ctdb_private.h, indicating a systemic problem rather than isolated instances of poor temporary file management.
The technical flaw manifests in the insecure creation of temporary files, which creates opportunities for privilege escalation and potential system compromise. When applications create temporary files without proper security measures, they expose themselves to race condition attacks where malicious users can manipulate the temporary file creation process to gain elevated privileges or execute arbitrary code. This vulnerability directly relates to CWE-377, which addresses insecure temporary file creation, and CWE-378, concerning the creation of temporary files with insecure permissions. The insecure temporary file handling creates a pathway for attackers to exploit the system through various attack vectors including symbolic link attacks, file overwrite scenarios, and privilege escalation techniques.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple temporary file management issues, as it affects the core functionality of clustered database systems that rely on ctdb for maintaining consistent data across multiple nodes. Attackers exploiting this vulnerability could potentially gain unauthorized access to cluster resources, manipulate distributed data, or elevate their privileges within the system. The unspecified impact mentioned in the description suggests that the vulnerability may have multiple attack surfaces and could lead to various security consequences depending on the specific implementation and system configuration. This type of vulnerability is particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where clustered databases are used for critical applications and services.
The vulnerability aligns with several ATT&CK techniques including privilege escalation through insecure file permissions and defense evasion via manipulation of system components. Organizations using OpenSUSE 12.3 and 13.1 systems with ctdb installations face significant risk of compromise, especially in environments where cluster integrity and data security are paramount. The attack surface includes not only the direct exploitation of the temporary file vulnerabilities but also potential indirect impacts through system-wide privilege escalation that could affect the entire cluster infrastructure. This vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper secure coding practices and the need for comprehensive security testing of all system components, particularly those handling temporary file operations in multi-user and multi-process environments.
Mitigation strategies should focus on implementing secure temporary file creation practices, including using proper file permission settings, employing atomic file creation methods, and ensuring that temporary files are created with appropriate security attributes. System administrators should immediately upgrade to ctdb versions 2.3 or later where the temporary file handling has been properly addressed. Additional measures include implementing proper file system permissions, monitoring for unauthorized temporary file creation, and conducting regular security audits of cluster components. The fix typically involves ensuring that temporary files are created with restrictive permissions and that the creation process is atomic to prevent race conditions that could be exploited by malicious actors. Organizations should also consider implementing additional security controls such as file integrity monitoring and privilege separation to minimize the potential impact of similar vulnerabilities in other system components.