CVE-2014-0241 in hammer_cli_foreman Gem
Summary
by MITRE
rubygem-hammer_cli_foreman: File /etc/hammer/cli.modules.d/foreman.yml world readable
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/11/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-0241 pertains to the rubygem-hammer_cli_foreman package where a configuration file located at /etc/hammer/cli.modules.d/foreman.yml is accessible with world-readable permissions. This represents a significant security flaw that exposes sensitive configuration data to unauthorized users on the system. The hammer CLI tool serves as a command-line interface for managing Foreman infrastructure, and the exposed configuration file likely contains authentication credentials, API endpoints, or other operational parameters that should remain confidential. This issue falls under the category of insecure file permissions and information disclosure vulnerabilities, with potential implications for privilege escalation and system compromise.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from improper permission settings on the configuration file, allowing any user on the system to read its contents. The file path structure indicates this is part of the hammer command-line interface configuration system used for Foreman management. The world-readable permission on the foreman.yml file means that all users, including potentially unprivileged accounts, can access sensitive information that may include API keys, database connection details, or administrative credentials. This misconfiguration creates an information disclosure risk that aligns with CWE-276, which addresses incorrect permissions for privileged system resources, and CWE-312, focusing on exposure of sensitive information through cleartext storage.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it can enable attackers to gain insights into the target system's infrastructure and potentially facilitate further attacks. An attacker who gains access to this configuration file could extract authentication tokens or API keys that might allow them to interact with Foreman services, potentially leading to unauthorized system modifications or data access. The vulnerability affects the integrity and confidentiality of the system's configuration management, as it violates the principle of least privilege by granting unnecessary access to sensitive data. This weakness can be leveraged in conjunction with other attack vectors to escalate privileges or conduct targeted attacks against the Foreman infrastructure, making it a critical concern for system administrators managing these environments.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on immediate permission correction and ongoing configuration management practices. System administrators should immediately change the file permissions using chmod 600 or similar restrictive settings to ensure only the intended user or group can access the file. Additionally, implementing proper file ownership controls and regular security audits of configuration files can prevent similar issues. The remediation aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566, which covers credential access through exploitation of weak permissions, and addresses the broader security principle of minimizing access to sensitive system resources. Organizations should also consider implementing automated configuration management tools that enforce proper permissions and conduct regular vulnerability assessments to identify and remediate similar issues across their infrastructure.