CVE-2015-1862 in Abrt
Summary
by MITRE
The crash reporting feature in Abrt allows local users to gain privileges by leveraging an execve by root after a chroot into a user-specified directory in a namedspaced environment.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/09/2024
The CVE-2015-1862 vulnerability resides within the Advanced Bug Reporting Tool (Abrt) crash reporting system, which is commonly deployed on Red Hat Enterprise Linux and similar distributions. This flaw represents a privilege escalation vulnerability that exploits the interaction between Abrt's crash handling mechanisms and the Linux namespace subsystem. The vulnerability specifically affects systems where Abrt is configured to run with elevated privileges and handles crash reports from unprivileged users. The issue manifests when Abrt processes crash data through its reporting feature, creating a potential attack vector for local users to escalate their privileges to root level access.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability hinges on the improper handling of the execve system call within Abrt's crash reporting code. When Abrt processes crash reports, it performs a chroot operation into a user-specified directory while operating within a namedspaced environment. This chroot operation, combined with the subsequent execve system call, creates an opportunity for privilege escalation. The flaw occurs because Abrt does not properly validate or sanitize the user-specified directory path before executing the chroot operation, allowing a local attacker to manipulate the environment in which crash reports are processed. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-276, which addresses improper privilege management, and specifically relates to CWE-264, which covers permissions, privileges, and access control issues.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple privilege escalation, as it allows attackers to gain root access to systems running Abrt, potentially leading to complete system compromise. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to execute arbitrary code with the highest system privileges, enabling them to modify system files, install malicious software, or establish persistent backdoors. The vulnerability is particularly concerning in enterprise environments where Abrt is commonly used for system monitoring and crash reporting, as it provides a stealthy method for attackers to escalate privileges without triggering traditional security alerts. The attack requires local access to the system but does not need network connectivity, making it particularly difficult to detect through network-based monitoring systems.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2015-1862 involve multiple layers of security controls to prevent exploitation of the privilege escalation vulnerability. System administrators should immediately apply the vendor-provided patches that address the improper handling of chroot operations and execve calls within Abrt's crash reporting functionality. Additionally, implementing strict file system permissions and access controls can help limit the potential damage from exploitation attempts. The principle of least privilege should be enforced by ensuring that Abrt processes run with minimal required privileges rather than root access. Organizations should also consider implementing monitoring solutions that can detect anomalous chroot operations or execve calls from privileged processes, as these activities may indicate exploitation attempts. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to privilege escalation techniques under T1068, and defensive measures should include process monitoring and privilege reduction strategies to prevent successful exploitation.