CVE-2015-7543 in aRts
Summary
by MITRE
aRts 1.5.10 and kdelibs3 3.5.10 and earlier do not properly create temporary directories, which allows local users to hijack the IPC by pre-creating the temporary directory.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/01/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2015-7543 affects aRts version 1.5.10 and kdelibs3 version 3.5.10 and earlier, representing a critical security flaw in how temporary directories are handled within these software components. This issue falls under the category of improper temporary file handling, which is a well-documented weakness that can lead to privilege escalation and unauthorized access to system resources. The flaw specifically manifests when applications fail to properly secure temporary directory creation processes, creating opportunities for malicious actors to exploit the system's trust mechanisms.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from the insecure creation of temporary directories without proper access controls or validation mechanisms. When applications create temporary directories, they typically expect these locations to be secure and isolated from user interference. However, in the affected versions, the temporary directory creation process does not adequately verify or enforce proper permissions, allowing local users to pre-create these directories with malicious intent. This pre-creation enables attackers to establish control over the IPC (Inter-Process Communication) mechanisms that rely on these temporary directories for their operation.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is significant for systems running affected software versions, as it provides local users with the capability to hijack IPC channels and potentially execute arbitrary code with elevated privileges. The attack vector specifically targets local users who can leverage their existing system access to manipulate the temporary directory creation process, effectively bypassing normal security controls. This weakness can be exploited to gain unauthorized access to system resources, manipulate application behavior, and potentially escalate privileges within the affected environment.
This vulnerability aligns with CWE-377, which addresses insecure temporary file creation, and represents a classic example of how improper resource management can lead to privilege escalation attacks. From an ATT&CK perspective, this weakness maps to techniques involving privilege escalation and process injection, as attackers can manipulate the temporary directory creation process to gain unauthorized access to system resources. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper temporary file handling and access control mechanisms in preventing local privilege escalation attacks that exploit trust relationships within software applications.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2015-7543 involve immediate patching of affected software components to ensure proper temporary directory creation with appropriate access controls and permissions. System administrators should also implement monitoring for suspicious temporary directory creation activities and consider implementing additional security measures such as secure temporary directory creation with proper ownership and permission settings. Organizations should conduct comprehensive vulnerability assessments to identify all instances of affected software and ensure that temporary directory handling follows secure coding practices that prevent pre-creation attacks. The remediation process should include verifying that applications properly validate temporary directory creation and enforce appropriate access controls to prevent unauthorized manipulation of these critical system resources.