CVE-2014-7180 in ElectricCommander
Summary
by MITRE
Electric Cloud ElectricCommander before 4.2.6 and 5.x before 5.0.3 uses world-writable permissions for (1) eccert.pl and (2) ecconfigure.pl, which allows local users to execute arbitrary Perl code by modifying these files.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/03/2022
The vulnerability described in CVE-2014-7180 affects Electric Cloud ElectricCommander versions prior to 4.2.6 and 5.x versions prior to 5.0.3, representing a critical privilege escalation flaw that stems from improper file permissions. This issue is classified under CWE-732, which deals with Incorrect Permission Assignment for Critical Resources, and directly enables local attackers to gain unauthorized code execution capabilities. The affected files eccert.pl and ecconfigure.pl are configured with world-writable permissions, creating a fundamental security weakness that undermines the integrity of the system.
The technical flaw manifests through the improper permission model where both eccert.pl and ecconfigure.pl are set with permissions that allow any local user to modify these critical system files. This misconfiguration enables attackers to inject malicious Perl code into these scripts, which then execute with the privileges of the process that runs them. When these scripts execute, they can be leveraged to perform arbitrary code execution, potentially allowing attackers to escalate privileges, install backdoors, or compromise the entire system. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it operates at the local user level, requiring no network access or authentication, making it extremely difficult to detect and prevent.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability creates significant risk for organizations using ElectricCommander for continuous integration and deployment processes, as it provides a pathway for malicious actors to gain unauthorized access to critical infrastructure. The impact extends beyond simple code execution, as these scripts are typically part of the core system functionality and may be invoked with elevated privileges during system configuration or certificate management operations. Attackers can exploit this weakness to establish persistent access, modify system configurations, or even compromise other systems within the network that rely on ElectricCommander for automation. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1068, which covers 'Exploitation for Privilege Escalation', and T1059.007, covering 'Command and Scripting Interpreter: Perl', demonstrating how local privilege escalation can be achieved through script manipulation.
The recommended mitigations for this vulnerability include immediate patching of ElectricCommander to versions 4.2.6 or 5.0.3 and later, which properly address the permission issues. System administrators should also conduct thorough permission audits to ensure that no other system files maintain world-writable permissions, as this represents a broader security misconfiguration that could be exploited in similar ways. Additionally, implementing proper file integrity monitoring solutions can help detect unauthorized modifications to critical system scripts. Organizations should also consider implementing principle of least privilege models, where system files are configured with the minimal necessary permissions to function properly, and regular security assessments should be performed to identify and remediate similar permission-related vulnerabilities across the entire infrastructure.