CVE-2014-3701 in eDeploy
Summary
by MITRE
eDeploy has tmp file race condition flaws
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/16/2019
The CVE-2014-3701 vulnerability targets eDeploy, a deployment tool used for managing software installations across multiple systems. This vulnerability stems from improper handling of temporary files during the deployment process, creating a race condition that can be exploited by malicious actors. The flaw exists in how the system manages temporary files, particularly during file creation and access operations, where concurrent processes can interfere with each other's file operations. The race condition occurs when multiple processes attempt to create or modify temporary files simultaneously, leading to unpredictable behavior and potential security breaches. This type of vulnerability falls under the broader category of race condition flaws that are commonly exploited in various deployment and installation systems. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it can be leveraged to execute arbitrary code on target systems, potentially allowing attackers to gain unauthorized access or escalate privileges within the deployment environment. The attack surface is expanded when eDeploy is used in enterprise environments where multiple systems are managed through a centralized deployment mechanism, making the impact of this vulnerability significant across networked deployments.
The technical implementation of this race condition involves the creation of temporary files without proper synchronization mechanisms or secure file handling practices. When eDeploy generates temporary files during the deployment process, it fails to implement adequate locking mechanisms or atomic file operations that would prevent concurrent access issues. Attackers can exploit this by creating malicious temporary files with specific names or by manipulating the timing of file operations to overwrite or inject malicious content into legitimate temporary files. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-367, which specifically addresses Time-of-Check to Time-of-Use (TOCTOU) race conditions, where the state of a resource changes between the time it is checked and when it is used. This particular flaw represents a variant of TOCTOU issues that can be particularly dangerous in deployment contexts where temporary files may contain sensitive installation data or configuration information. The race condition can be triggered through various attack vectors including network-based exploitation or local privilege escalation scenarios, depending on the deployment environment and system permissions.
The operational impact of CVE-2014-3701 extends beyond simple file corruption or system instability. In enterprise deployment environments, this vulnerability can be exploited to compromise entire deployment pipelines and potentially gain access to critical infrastructure. When attackers successfully exploit the race condition, they can inject malicious code into temporary files that will be executed during the normal deployment process, effectively creating a backdoor or persistent threat within the target environment. The vulnerability can also be used to escalate privileges if the deployment process runs with elevated permissions, allowing attackers to gain system-level access. Organizations using eDeploy for automated deployments are particularly at risk since the exploitation can occur during routine deployment operations, making detection more challenging. The attack can result in data exfiltration, system compromise, or disruption of deployment services, potentially affecting hundreds or thousands of systems depending on the scale of the deployment environment. Additionally, the vulnerability may be exploited to bypass security controls that depend on the integrity of temporary files, undermining the overall security posture of the deployment infrastructure.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2014-3701 should focus on implementing secure file handling practices and eliminating race conditions through proper synchronization mechanisms. Organizations should ensure that all temporary file operations in eDeploy are performed using atomic operations or proper file locking mechanisms to prevent concurrent access issues. The deployment environment should be configured to use secure temporary file directories with appropriate permissions and access controls, preventing unauthorized modification of temporary files. Regular security audits of deployment processes should be conducted to identify and remediate similar race condition vulnerabilities across all deployment tools and systems. Updates to eDeploy should be applied immediately to address the specific race condition flaws identified in this CVE, with patches that implement proper temporary file management protocols. Network segmentation and monitoring should be enhanced to detect suspicious file creation or modification patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts. The implementation of principle of least privilege should be enforced for deployment processes, limiting the permissions of deployment tools to only what is necessary for their operation. Additionally, organizations should consider implementing file integrity monitoring solutions that can detect unauthorized changes to temporary files during deployment operations, providing early warning of potential exploitation attempts. These mitigations align with ATT&CK techniques focused on privilege escalation and persistence, addressing the core threat vectors that emerge from such race condition vulnerabilities in deployment tools.