CVE-2013-5364 in CSI Agent
Summary
by MITRE
Secunia CSI Agent 6.0.0.15017 and earlier, 6.0.1.1007 and earlier, and 7.0.0.21 and earlier, when running on Red Hat Linux, uses world-readable and world-writable permissions for /etc/csia_config.xml, which allows local users to change CSI Agent configuration by modifying this file.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/29/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2013-5364 affects Secunia CSI Agent versions prior to specific patches on Red Hat Linux systems. This represents a critical privilege escalation risk through improper file permissions that undermines the security posture of the affected systems. The flaw manifests in the agent's configuration file handling mechanism where the /etc/csia_config.xml file is created with overly permissive access controls. This misconfiguration allows any local user to modify the agent's operational parameters through direct file manipulation, bypassing normal authentication and authorization mechanisms that should protect such critical system components.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability stems from poor privilege separation and inadequate access control implementation within the Secunia CSI Agent installation process. When the agent initializes on Red Hat Linux systems, it creates the configuration file with world-readable and world-writable permissions, specifically violating the principle of least privilege that is fundamental to secure system design. This permission scheme enables any user account to read the configuration file contents and subsequently modify them to alter the agent's behavior, potentially redirecting system monitoring activities or disabling security features entirely. The vulnerability directly maps to CWE-732: Incorrect Permission Assignment for Critical Resource, which classifies improper file permissions as a direct threat to system integrity.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple configuration modification, as it provides attackers with a persistent foothold for further exploitation. Local users who gain access to the system can leverage this flaw to manipulate the CSI Agent's behavior, potentially disabling security monitoring capabilities, redirecting log data, or even establishing backdoor access paths. This vulnerability creates a vector for privilege escalation attacks where a low-privileged user can effectively gain elevated system control through configuration manipulation. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this as a privilege escalation technique through configuration file manipulation, where adversaries modify system files to gain elevated privileges or alter system behavior.
Organizations running affected versions of the Secunia CSI Agent face significant security implications as this vulnerability can be exploited without requiring external network access or specialized tools. The attack surface is particularly concerning in multi-user environments where multiple local accounts exist, as any user can potentially compromise the security monitoring capabilities of the system. Remediation requires immediate attention through patching the agent to version 6.0.0.15018, 6.0.1.1008, or 7.0.0.22, which properly implements restrictive file permissions. Additionally, system administrators should conduct immediate audits of existing installations to verify proper file permissions and consider implementing automated monitoring for unauthorized configuration changes to detect potential exploitation attempts. The vulnerability underscores the importance of proper file access control implementation and demonstrates how seemingly minor permission misconfigurations can create significant security risks in enterprise security tooling.