CVE-2015-5302 in libreport
Summary
by MITRE
libreport 2.0.7 before 2.6.3 only saves changes to the first file when editing a crash report, which allows remote attackers to obtain sensitive information via unspecified vectors related to the (1) backtrace, (2) cmdline, (3) environ, (4) open_fds, (5) maps, (6) smaps, (7) hostname, (8) remote, (9) ks.cfg, or (10) anaconda-tb file attachment included in a Red Hat Bugzilla bug report.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/28/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2015-5302 affects libreport version 2.0.7 through 2.6.2, representing a critical information disclosure flaw that impacts Red Hat Bugzilla integration within the Linux ecosystem. This vulnerability stems from a fundamental design flaw in how the library handles file modifications during crash report editing processes, specifically manifesting when users attempt to modify crash report attachments through the web interface. The issue occurs during the editing phase of bug reports where the system fails to properly process all modified files, instead only persisting changes to the first file encountered in the sequence.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves a buffer or processing loop flaw within libreport's file handling mechanism that operates under CWE-129, which encompasses improper handling of buffer boundaries during input validation. When a user edits a crash report containing multiple file attachments such as backtrace, cmdline, environ, open_fds, maps, smaps, hostname, remote, ks.cfg, or anaconda-tb files, the system processes these attachments sequentially but incorrectly stores modifications only for the initial file. This partial processing creates a scenario where sensitive information contained in subsequent files remains unmodified and potentially exposed through the unchanged file content. The vulnerability specifically impacts the web-based editing interface of Red Hat Bugzilla, where users can modify crash report data through the standard user interface.
The operational impact of CVE-2015-5302 extends beyond simple information disclosure to potentially compromise system security through exposure of detailed system information that could aid attackers in subsequent exploitation attempts. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to obtain sensitive data including system call traces, process command line arguments, environment variables, open file descriptors, memory mappings, and other diagnostic information that would normally be protected within crash reports. This information could provide attackers with detailed insights into system configurations, running processes, and memory layouts that could be used for privilege escalation, system compromise, or targeted attacks against specific applications. The vulnerability affects systems using Red Hat Bugzilla for crash report management, particularly those in enterprise environments where detailed system diagnostics are collected and analyzed.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate patching of libreport to version 2.6.3 or later, which addresses the file processing logic that causes the selective saving behavior. Organizations should also implement monitoring of Bugzilla web interfaces for unusual editing activities and establish automated checks to ensure that all file attachments in crash reports are properly processed and saved. Security teams should consider implementing network segmentation to limit access to Bugzilla interfaces and employ additional authentication measures to reduce the attack surface. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059 for command and scripting interpreter usage and T1082 for system information discovery, as the disclosed information could be used to gather system intelligence for further attacks. Organizations should also conduct security reviews of their crash reporting systems to identify similar vulnerabilities in other components that handle multi-file attachment processing, as this represents a systemic issue in how file modification operations are handled in reporting systems.