CVE-2014-4997 in point-cli Gem
Summary
by MITRE
lib/commands/setup.rb in the point-cli gem 0.0.1 for Ruby places credentials on the curl command line, which allows local users to obtain sensitive information by listing the process.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/29/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-4997 resides within the point-cli gem version 0.0.1 for Ruby, specifically in the lib/commands/setup.rb file. This flaw represents a critical security oversight that exposes sensitive authentication credentials through improper command execution practices. The vulnerability stems from the gem's implementation where user credentials are directly embedded into the curl command line arguments rather than being handled through secure alternative methods such as environment variables or configuration files. This insecure practice fundamentally violates established security principles for credential management and process execution.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through a simple but effective technique known as process enumeration. Local users with access to the system can execute standard process listing commands such as ps aux or similar utilities to observe running processes. When credentials are passed directly as command line arguments to curl, they become visible in the process table, making them immediately accessible to any user with process inspection privileges. This exposure creates a significant information disclosure risk where authentication tokens, passwords, or API keys can be extracted without requiring elevated privileges or complex attack vectors. The vulnerability directly maps to CWE-255 Credentials in Configuration Files and CWE-772 Improper Cleanup of Sensitive Data, as it demonstrates both insecure credential handling and inadequate data sanitization during process execution.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple credential exposure, creating potential downstream security consequences that can compromise entire systems. When authentication credentials are visible in process listings, attackers can leverage this information to perform unauthorized access attempts against services that the compromised credentials authenticate to. This vulnerability particularly affects environments where the point-cli gem is used for configuration management or deployment automation, as the exposure of credentials can lead to unauthorized system modifications, data breaches, or privilege escalation scenarios. The attack surface is further expanded in multi-user environments where process visibility is not properly restricted, potentially allowing any local user to access credentials belonging to other users or system processes.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2014-4997 should focus on immediate code remediation and long-term security hardening practices. The primary fix involves modifying the point-cli gem to avoid passing credentials directly on the curl command line by implementing secure credential handling mechanisms such as using curl's --user option with proper authentication headers or employing environment variables for credential storage. Organizations should also implement process monitoring and privilege restriction measures to limit local user access to process information. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1552.001 Valid Accounts and T1059.003 Command and Scripting Interpreter, as it demonstrates both credential exposure through process enumeration and the exploitation of command line interfaces for information gathering. System administrators should conduct comprehensive audits of all command line applications to identify similar credential exposure patterns and ensure proper implementation of the principle of least privilege in process execution environments.