CVE-2015-1396 in Patch
Summary
by MITRE
A Directory Traversal vulnerability exists in the GNU patch before 2.7.4. A remote attacker can write to arbitrary files via a symlink attack in a patch file. NOTE: this issue exists because of an incomplete fix for CVE-2015-1196.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/30/2024
The vulnerability described in CVE-2015-1396 represents a critical directory traversal flaw in the GNU patch utility versions prior to 2.7.4. This security weakness stems from an incomplete remediation of a previous vulnerability identified as CVE-2015-1196, creating a persistent security gap that allows malicious actors to exploit the system through symlink manipulation. The GNU patch utility is widely used for applying software patches to source code, making this vulnerability particularly dangerous as it can be leveraged in various attack scenarios targeting system integrity and file permissions.
The technical flaw manifests when the patch utility processes patch files containing symbolic links that point to arbitrary filesystem locations. During the patch application process, the utility fails to properly validate the target paths of these symlinks, allowing an attacker to craft malicious patch files that can overwrite or modify files outside the intended directory structure. This vulnerability specifically affects the way GNU patch handles symbolic links during the patch application phase, where the tool does not adequately sanitize or verify the destination paths of symlinked files. The issue is classified under CWE-22, which describes improper limitation of a pathname to a restricted directory, commonly known as path traversal or directory traversal attacks.
The operational impact of CVE-2015-1396 is significant, as it enables remote attackers to execute arbitrary file operations on systems running vulnerable versions of GNU patch. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to overwrite critical system files, inject malicious code into legitimate programs, or manipulate configuration files to gain unauthorized access. The vulnerability is particularly concerning in environments where users can submit patch files for processing, such as software development workflows, automated build systems, or collaborative development platforms. When exploited, this vulnerability can lead to complete system compromise, data corruption, or privilege escalation attacks that align with techniques documented in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under the T1059 and T1068 tactics.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2015-1396 require immediate patching of all affected GNU patch installations to version 2.7.4 or later, which contains the proper fix for this vulnerability. Organizations should implement strict input validation procedures for all patch files processed by their systems, including automated scanning for potentially malicious symlink patterns. System administrators should also consider implementing restrictive file permissions and sandboxing mechanisms to limit the potential impact of successful exploitation attempts. Additionally, security monitoring should be enhanced to detect unusual file modification patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of thorough vulnerability remediation and the potential risks associated with incomplete security fixes, as highlighted in the ATT&CK framework's documentation on incomplete patch management and the exploitation of previously identified weaknesses.