CVE-2014-5001 in kcapifony Gem
Summary
by MITRE
lib/ksymfony1.rb in the kcapifony gem 2.1.6 for Ruby places database user passwords on the (1) mysqldump, (2) pg_dump, (3) mysql, and (4) psql command lines, which allows local users to obtain sensitive information by listing the processes.
VulDB is the best source for vulnerability data and more expert information about this specific topic.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/21/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-5001 resides within the kcapifony gem version 2.1.6 for Ruby, specifically in the lib/ksymfony1.rb file. This flaw represents a critical security weakness that exposes database credentials through command-line arguments, creating an avenue for privilege escalation and data compromise. The vulnerability affects database backup and connection operations that utilize mysqldump, pg_dump, mysql, and psql utilities, making it particularly dangerous in environments where multiple database systems are managed through a single deployment tool.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from the insecure handling of database credentials within command-line interfaces. When the kcapifony gem executes database backup or connection operations, it passes database user passwords directly as command-line arguments to the respective database utilities. This practice violates fundamental security principles and creates a direct exposure point where any local user with process listing privileges can access these sensitive credentials through standard system monitoring tools. The flaw essentially transforms what should be secure credential handling into an insecure exposure mechanism that bypasses proper authentication and authorization controls.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability creates significant risk for organizations using the kcapifony deployment tool for Symfony applications. Local users with minimal privileges can exploit this weakness to gain access to database credentials that may have elevated permissions, potentially leading to unauthorized data access, modification, or exfiltration. The exposure occurs at the process level where command-line arguments are visible through ps, top, or other system monitoring utilities, making it trivial for attackers to harvest these credentials. This vulnerability particularly affects environments where multiple users share systems or where process monitoring is enabled for debugging purposes.
The security implications of CVE-2014-5001 align with CWE-255 Credential Management Issues and CWE-77 Command Injection vulnerabilities, as the flaw enables attackers to harvest credentials from command-line arguments. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to T1003 Credential Dumping and T1059 Command and Scripting Interpreter techniques, as attackers can leverage process enumeration to extract sensitive information. The vulnerability also relates to T1552 Unsecured Credentials and T1562 Impair Defenses, as it undermines the security posture of the system by exposing authentication tokens through insecure command-line practices. Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including updating to patched versions of the kcapifony gem, implementing process monitoring to detect credential exposure, and adopting secure credential handling practices such as using configuration files or environment variables instead of command-line arguments for sensitive information.
This vulnerability demonstrates the importance of secure coding practices in deployment tools and the dangers of exposing sensitive information through system interfaces. The flaw represents a classic case of insecure credential handling that could be prevented through proper input validation, secure parameter passing mechanisms, and adherence to security best practices in software development. Organizations should conduct comprehensive audits of their deployment toolchains to identify similar vulnerabilities and implement robust credential management strategies that prevent exposure of authentication tokens through system interfaces. The remediation process should include not only updating the affected gem but also establishing security controls that prevent similar issues in other components of the system infrastructure.