CVE-2014-4677 in GPG Suite
Summary
by MITRE
The installPackage function in the installerHelper subcomponent in Libmacgpg in GPG Suite before 2015.06 allows local users to execute arbitrary commands with root privileges via shell metacharacters in the xmlPath argument.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/02/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-4677 resides within the installerHelper subcomponent of Libmacgpg in GPG Suite versions prior to 2015.06, representing a critical privilege escalation flaw that enables local attackers to execute arbitrary commands with root privileges. This vulnerability manifests through the installPackage function which fails to properly sanitize user input, specifically the xmlPath argument, creating a path traversal and command injection vector that can be exploited by malicious actors with local system access.
The technical flaw stems from inadequate input validation and sanitization within the installerHelper component, which processes XML configuration files during package installation operations. When the xmlPath argument contains shell metacharacters such as semicolons, ampersands, or backticks, these characters are not properly escaped or filtered before being passed to shell execution contexts. This allows attackers to inject malicious commands that execute with the elevated privileges of the installerHelper process, typically running with root permissions due to its role in system-level package management operations.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple command execution as it provides complete system compromise capabilities for local users who can leverage this flaw to escalate privileges and gain root access to affected systems. Attackers can utilize this vulnerability to install malicious software, modify system files, create persistent backdoors, or exfiltrate sensitive data from the compromised machine. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it operates silently within the legitimate installer framework, making detection more challenging for security monitoring systems that may not flag normal installer behavior as suspicious.
This vulnerability maps directly to CWE-78, which describes improper neutralization of special elements used in OS commands, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1068, which covers exploit for privilege escalation. The flaw represents a classic command injection vulnerability that exploits the trust relationship between the installer component and the underlying shell execution environment. Organizations running affected GPG Suite versions face significant risk of complete system compromise, as the vulnerability requires no network connectivity and can be exploited through local access alone.
Mitigation strategies should focus on immediate patching to GPG Suite version 2015.06 or later, which incorporates proper input sanitization and validation mechanisms. System administrators should also implement additional security controls including privilege separation, input validation at multiple layers, and monitoring for unusual installer activity. Network segmentation and least privilege principles should be enforced to limit potential damage from successful exploitation attempts, while regular security audits should verify that no unauthorized modifications have occurred in the installer components. The vulnerability highlights the importance of proper input validation in privileged system components and serves as a reminder of the critical security implications when sanitization fails in high-privilege contexts.