CVE-2015-1839 in SaltStack
Summary
by MITRE
modules/chef.py in SaltStack before 2014.7.4 does not properly handle files in /tmp.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/29/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2015-1839 affects SaltStack versions prior to 2014.7.4 and specifically targets the chef.py module within the salt/modules directory. This issue stems from improper handling of temporary files located in the /tmp directory, creating a potential security risk that could be exploited by malicious actors. The flaw resides in how SaltStack processes and manages temporary files during its execution, particularly when interacting with chef configurations and deployments.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the salt/modules/chef.py module failing to adequately sanitize or secure temporary files created in the /tmp filesystem. This improper file handling creates opportunities for privilege escalation and information disclosure attacks, as adversaries could potentially manipulate or access these temporary files to gain unauthorized system access or extract sensitive information. The vulnerability represents a classic case of insecure temporary file handling that can be exploited through various attack vectors including symlink attacks or race conditions.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability poses significant risks to organizations using SaltStack for configuration management and automation tasks. Attackers could leverage this flaw to execute arbitrary code with elevated privileges, potentially compromising entire infrastructure deployments. The impact extends beyond simple file access issues as it could enable attackers to modify critical system configurations, access sensitive data, or establish persistent backdoors within the managed environment. Organizations relying on SaltStack for enterprise automation would face substantial security implications if this vulnerability remains unpatched.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-377, which addresses insecure temporary file handling practices, and could be mapped to ATT&CK technique T1059 for execution through command injection. Organizations should immediately upgrade to SaltStack version 2014.7.4 or later to remediate this issue. Additional mitigations include implementing proper file permissions for /tmp directory, monitoring for unauthorized file access patterns, and conducting regular security audits of temporary file handling processes. System administrators should also consider implementing file integrity monitoring solutions to detect potential exploitation attempts targeting temporary file vulnerabilities.