CVE-2013-7172 in Slackware
Summary
by MITRE
Slackware 13.1, 13.37, 14.0 and 14.1 contain world-writable permissions on the iodbctest and iodbctestw programs within the libiodbc package, which could allow local users to use RPATH information to execute arbitrary code with root privileges.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/26/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2013-7172 represents a critical privilege escalation flaw within the libiodbc package across multiple Slackware Linux versions including 13.1, 13.37, 14.0, and 14.1. This issue stems from improper file permissions that grant world-writable access to the iodbctest and iodbctestw executables, creating a significant security risk for systems running these specific versions. The affected programs are part of the Open Database Connectivity (ODBC) implementation that facilitates database connections and operations within Unix-like systems. The root cause of this vulnerability lies in the package installation process where these binaries are configured with overly permissive permissions that allow any local user to modify their contents.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability leverages the RPATH mechanism within the affected executables to execute malicious code with elevated privileges. When local users can write to these world-writable binaries, they can manipulate the RPATH information to point to malicious shared libraries or executables. This technique exploits the principle of least privilege violation where system utilities should not be writable by unprivileged users. The vulnerability directly maps to CWE-732, which addresses inadequate permissions for critical resources, and CWE-276, which covers incorrect permissions for critical resources. The attack vector involves a local user modifying the binary files to include malicious code that will execute with root privileges when the programs are invoked by the system or other users.
The operational impact of CVE-2013-7172 extends beyond simple privilege escalation to potentially compromise entire system integrity and confidentiality. Since these programs are typically installed system-wide and may be executed by various system processes or users, successful exploitation can provide attackers with root access to perform unauthorized system modifications, data theft, or persistent backdoor installation. The vulnerability affects systems where these specific Slackware versions are deployed, particularly those running database applications or systems that rely on ODBC connectivity. Attackers can leverage this flaw to gain unauthorized administrative access, escalate privileges silently, and maintain persistent access to compromised systems. The exploitation requires only local user access, making it particularly dangerous in multi-user environments where users may have legitimate reasons to access system resources but could potentially abuse this privilege.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2013-7172 require immediate system administrators to address the file permission issues by changing the ownership and permissions of the affected executables to prevent world-writable access. The recommended approach involves setting proper permissions using chmod and chown commands to ensure that only authorized users or system processes can modify these critical binaries. System administrators should also consider implementing automated monitoring to detect unauthorized modifications to these files and establish regular security audits to identify similar permission misconfigurations. The remediation process aligns with ATT&CK technique T1068, which addresses privilege escalation through local exploitation, and T1548.001, covering abuse of system permissions. Organizations should also apply vendor patches or upgrade to newer Slackware versions that address this specific vulnerability, ensuring that all systems are properly updated to prevent exploitation. Additionally, implementing principle of least privilege practices and regular security assessments can help prevent similar issues from occurring in other system components.