CVE-2014-3585 in redhat-upgrade-tool
Summary
by MITRE
redhat-upgrade-tool: Does not check GPG signatures when upgrading versions
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/23/2019
The CVE-2014-3585 vulnerability resides within the redhat-upgrade-tool component of Red Hat Enterprise Linux systems, representing a critical security flaw in the software update verification process. This vulnerability specifically affects the tool's inability to properly validate GPG signatures during version upgrades, creating a potential attack vector that undermines the integrity of the system's software supply chain. The issue stems from the tool's failure to implement proper cryptographic verification mechanisms that should ensure software packages originate from trusted sources and have not been tampered with during distribution. When systems attempt to upgrade using this tool, they bypass essential signature validation checks that are fundamental to maintaining system security and integrity.
The technical flaw manifests as a missing validation step within the upgrade process where the redhat-upgrade-tool fails to verify GPG signatures associated with software packages being installed. This absence of signature checking creates a scenario where malicious actors could potentially substitute legitimate software packages with compromised versions without detection. The vulnerability operates at the package management level, affecting how the tool processes and installs software updates, essentially allowing unauthorized modifications to propagate through the system. This flaw directly violates established security principles of integrity verification and trust establishment in software distribution processes.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple software installation concerns, as it fundamentally compromises the security posture of affected systems. Organizations relying on automated upgrade processes could unknowingly introduce malicious code into their environments, potentially leading to full system compromise, data exfiltration, or persistent backdoor access. The vulnerability affects systems that depend on Red Hat's upgrade tooling for maintaining software versions, making it particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where automated patch management is critical. Attackers could exploit this weakness by creating forged package repositories or compromising legitimate update channels, knowing that the upgrade tool would not validate the authenticity of the packages being installed.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2014-3585 should prioritize immediate implementation of manual signature verification processes and enhanced monitoring of upgrade activities. Organizations must ensure that GPG keys are properly configured and that all software packages are manually verified before installation, particularly when using the affected upgrade tool. System administrators should implement additional verification steps such as checksum validation, manual package inspection, and regular audit procedures to compensate for the missing signature checking functionality. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-311, which addresses the absence of cryptographic protection for sensitive data, and relates to ATT&CK technique T1068, which covers privilege escalation through exploitation of system vulnerabilities. Organizations should also consider implementing network-based protections such as firewall rules to restrict access to package repositories and deploy intrusion detection systems to monitor for suspicious upgrade activities, ensuring comprehensive defense against potential exploitation of this signature validation weakness.