CVE-2013-6049 in apt-listbug
Summary
by MITRE
apt-listbugs before 0.1.10 creates temporary files insecurely, which allows attackers to have unspecified impact via unknown vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/28/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2013-6049 affects the apt-listbugs utility version 0.1.10 and earlier, presenting a critical security flaw in how temporary files are handled during the package management process. This issue resides within the Debian package management ecosystem where apt-listbugs is used to check for bugs in packages before installation, creating a potential attack surface that could be exploited by malicious actors. The insecure temporary file creation mechanism represents a fundamental flaw in the software's design that could lead to various security consequences depending on how the vulnerability is leveraged.
The technical flaw manifests in the insecure creation of temporary files by the apt-listbugs utility, which violates established security principles for temporary file handling. This pattern typically involves creating files in predictable locations without proper permission settings or atomic creation mechanisms. The vulnerability falls under the category of insecure temporary file creation, which is classified as CWE-377 and often relates to CWE-378, where temporary files are created with insufficient security controls. Attackers can exploit this weakness through race conditions or by manipulating the temporary file creation process to achieve privilege escalation or arbitrary code execution within the context of the affected system.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple privilege escalation, as it can potentially allow attackers to manipulate package installation processes and compromise system integrity. When apt-listbugs creates temporary files insecurely, it opens pathways for attackers to inject malicious content that could be executed during subsequent package operations. This represents a significant threat to system security since package management operations typically run with elevated privileges, making any compromise of the apt-listbugs utility potentially devastating. The unspecified impact vector means that attackers could leverage this vulnerability in multiple ways including but not limited to local privilege escalation, data corruption, or system compromise through various attack vectors that exploit the insecure temporary file creation mechanism.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2013-6049 should focus on updating to version 0.1.10 or later of apt-listbugs where the insecure temporary file handling has been corrected. System administrators should also implement proper file permission controls and monitor for suspicious temporary file creation patterns in the /tmp directory or other temporary storage locations. The remediation process aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.001 for execution through command and scripting interpreter, where attackers might attempt to exploit such vulnerabilities to gain unauthorized access. Additionally, organizations should consider implementing privilege separation techniques and ensuring that temporary files are created with appropriate permissions and atomic operations to prevent race condition exploits. Regular security auditing of package management utilities and temporary file handling mechanisms should be part of ongoing security maintenance to prevent similar vulnerabilities from being introduced in the future.