CVE-2015-1343 in unity-scope-gdrive
Summary
by MITRE
All versions of unity-scope-gdrive logs search terms to syslog.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/06/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2015-1343 affects unity-scope-gdrive, a component of the Ubuntu desktop environment that provides integration with google drive services. This issue represents a privacy and information disclosure concern where the application fails to properly sanitize user input during search operations, resulting in the logging of search terms to the system syslog facility. The flaw exists in the scope's handling of user queries when interfacing with google drive services through the unity desktop environment.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and logging practices within the unity-scope-gdrive component. When users perform searches through the unity desktop interface that integrates with google drive, the search terms are not properly filtered or sanitized before being written to the system logging infrastructure. This creates a situation where sensitive user data, including potentially confidential search queries, becomes accessible through standard system log files that may be readable by various system processes and users with appropriate permissions. The vulnerability is classified under the CWE-20 category for improper input validation, specifically concerning the handling of user-supplied data within application logging mechanisms.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple privacy concerns to potentially expose sensitive information to unauthorized parties who can access system logs. In enterprise environments where multiple users share systems or where log files are not properly secured, search terms containing personal information, business data, or other confidential content could be inadvertently exposed. The syslog facility typically stores logs in accessible locations with default permissions that may not adequately restrict access to sensitive data. This vulnerability affects all versions of unity-scope-gdrive, indicating a systemic issue within the application's architecture rather than a specific code flaw that could be easily patched.
Security practitioners should consider this vulnerability in the context of broader logging and input validation practices as outlined in the mitre attack framework where data exposure occurs through improper handling of user inputs. The vulnerability demonstrates how seemingly benign functionality can create security risks when proper input sanitization and logging practices are not implemented. Organizations using ubuntu desktop environments with unity-scope-gdrive should implement immediate mitigations including restricting access to syslog files, implementing proper log rotation and access controls, and considering the removal or disabling of the affected scope component until proper security measures are in place. The issue highlights the importance of applying defense-in-depth principles to prevent information leakage through system components that interface with external services and handle user input.