CVE-2014-1233 in paratrooper-pingdom
Summary
by MITRE
The paratrooper-pingdom gem 1.0.0 for Ruby allows local users to obtain the App-Key, username, and password values by listing the curl process.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/04/2019
The paratrooper-pingdom gem version 1.0.0 contains a critical security flaw that exposes sensitive authentication credentials through process enumeration techniques. This vulnerability affects ruby applications that utilize the gem for pingdom monitoring services, where the gem stores authentication parameters in plain text within the curl command execution process. The issue stems from improper handling of command line arguments and environment variables during external process execution, creating an information disclosure risk that can be exploited by local attackers with minimal privileges.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability occurs when the gem executes curl commands to interact with the pingdom API. During process execution, the App-Key, username, and password values are passed as command line arguments to the curl process, making them visible through process listing utilities such as ps, top, or other process monitoring tools. This exposure violates fundamental security principles of credential handling and demonstrates poor input sanitization practices. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-209, Information Exposure Through an Error Message, and CWE-312, Cleartext Storage of Sensitive Information, as the authentication data remains in plaintext within process memory and command line arguments.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is significant for systems running affected applications, as local attackers can easily extract authentication credentials without requiring network access or complex exploitation techniques. Once obtained, these credentials can be used to gain unauthorized access to pingdom monitoring services, potentially leading to service disruption, data leakage, or further lateral movement within compromised environments. The attack vector is particularly concerning because it requires no network connectivity and can be executed from any user account on the system where the vulnerable gem is installed, making it a persistent threat in multi-user environments.
Mitigation strategies should focus on immediate remediation through gem version updates that properly handle authentication credentials by using environment variables or secure configuration files instead of command line arguments. System administrators should implement process monitoring to detect suspicious command line executions containing credential-like patterns and deploy privileged access management controls to limit local user privileges. Additionally, organizations should consider implementing runtime application self-protection mechanisms and regular security scanning of ruby gem dependencies to identify similar vulnerabilities. This vulnerability exemplifies ATT&CK technique T1059.001 for Command and Scripting Interpreter, where attackers can leverage legitimate system tools to extract sensitive information, and T1552.001 for Unsecured Credentials, highlighting the importance of secure credential management practices in application development.