CVE-2013-4455 in Installer
Summary
by MITRE
Katello Installer before 0.0.18 uses world-readable permissions for /etc/pki/tls/private/katello-node.key when deploying a child Pulp node, which allows local users to obtain the private key by reading the file.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/21/2022
The vulnerability described in CVE-2013-4455 represents a critical security flaw in the Katello Installer tool that affected versions prior to 0.0.18. This issue specifically impacts the deployment of child Pulp nodes within the Katello content management system, which is widely used for managing software repositories and content distribution in enterprise environments. The vulnerability stems from improper file permission handling during the installation process, creating a significant risk for organizations relying on Katello for their software delivery infrastructure.
The technical flaw manifests through the creation of a sensitive private key file with overly permissive world-readable permissions. The file /etc/pki/tls/private/katello-node.key contains cryptographic material essential for secure communications between the Katello server and its child Pulp nodes. When deployed with vulnerable installer versions, this private key file is created with permissions that allow any local user on the system to read its contents. This represents a direct violation of the principle of least privilege and creates an attack surface that can be exploited by malicious local users or compromised processes running on the same system.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability enables local users to obtain the private key that authenticates communications between Katello components, potentially allowing them to impersonate legitimate nodes within the system. The compromise of this cryptographic material could lead to unauthorized access to software repositories, manipulation of content distribution, and potential lateral movement within the infrastructure. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it requires no network access or authentication credentials to exploit, making it a low-effort, high-impact security issue. Organizations using Katello for managing their software delivery pipelines face significant risk if this vulnerability remains unpatched.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-732, which describes improper permission assignment for critical resources, and represents a clear violation of security best practices for handling cryptographic materials. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to techniques involving privilege escalation and credential access, as local users can leverage the readable private key to gain elevated privileges and access to protected system resources. The issue also relates to defense evasion techniques where attackers can use stolen credentials to maintain persistence within the system. Organizations should immediately upgrade to Katello Installer version 0.0.18 or later to resolve this issue, while also implementing additional monitoring for unauthorized access attempts to sensitive cryptographic files. System administrators should conduct thorough audits of file permissions on cryptographic material and implement automated security scanning to detect similar misconfigurations across their infrastructure.