CVE-2014-1937 in Gamera
Summary
by MITRE
Gamera before 3.4.1 insecurely creates temporary files.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/26/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-1937 affects Gamera versions prior to 3.4.1 and represents a critical security flaw in the temporary file handling mechanism. This issue stems from the application's insecure creation of temporary files, which creates opportunities for privilege escalation and arbitrary code execution attacks. The vulnerability occurs when the software generates temporary files without proper security measures, allowing malicious actors to exploit the process and gain elevated privileges on the affected system.
The technical implementation of this flaw involves the application's failure to properly secure temporary file creation processes, which typically follows predictable naming conventions or creates files with insufficient permissions. When Gamera generates temporary files, it often uses default system locations or predictable file names that can be manipulated by attackers. This insecure practice violates fundamental security principles and creates a pathway for attackers to replace legitimate temporary files with malicious counterparts, leading to unauthorized code execution with the privileges of the targeted user or service account.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents significant risks to system integrity and data confidentiality. Attackers can exploit the insecure temporary file creation to execute malicious code with elevated privileges, potentially compromising entire systems or networks. The impact extends beyond individual system compromise to include potential lateral movement within network environments, as attackers may use this vulnerability to establish persistent access or escalate privileges to administrative levels. The vulnerability also affects the integrity of the application itself, as temporary files often contain sensitive processing data or configuration information that could be intercepted or manipulated by malicious actors.
The weakness manifests primarily through improper file permission handling and predictable naming schemes during temporary file creation processes. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-377, which addresses insecure temporary file creation practices, and demonstrates characteristics consistent with CWE-378, dealing with creation of temporary files with insecure permissions. The attack vector typically involves privilege escalation techniques where attackers manipulate the temporary file creation process to gain unauthorized access to system resources or execute malicious payloads. This flaw can be exploited through various methods including symbolic link attacks, race condition exploitation, or direct file replacement attacks that take advantage of the predictable nature of insecure temporary file generation.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2014-1937 require immediate implementation of proper temporary file handling procedures and system updates. Organizations should upgrade to Gamera version 3.4.1 or later, which includes fixed temporary file creation mechanisms that properly secure file permissions and use random or unpredictable naming schemes. Additional protective measures include implementing proper file permission controls, using secure temporary file creation functions, and conducting regular security audits of temporary file handling processes. The solution should also incorporate monitoring systems to detect unauthorized temporary file modifications and establish secure coding practices that prevent similar vulnerabilities in future development cycles. System administrators should also consider implementing privilege separation and access controls to limit the potential impact of any successful exploitation attempts.