CVE-2015-8612 in Blueman
Summary
by MITRE
The EnableNetwork method in the Network class in plugins/mechanism/Network.py in Blueman before 2.0.3 allows local users to gain privileges via the dhcp_handler argument.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/24/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2015-8612 represents a privilege escalation flaw within the Blueman network management framework, specifically affecting versions prior to 2.0.3. This issue resides in the Network class implementation within the plugins/mechanism/Network.py file, where the EnableNetwork method demonstrates insecure handling of the dhcp_handler argument. The vulnerability manifests as a local privilege escalation vector that allows unprivileged users to elevate their system privileges through manipulation of network configuration parameters.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability stems from improper input validation and privilege management within the dhcp_handler parameter processing. When the EnableNetwork method accepts user-provided dhcp_handler arguments, it fails to adequately sanitize or validate the input before executing privileged operations. This design flaw creates an opportunity for local attackers to inject malicious code or manipulate system calls that should only be executable by privileged processes. The vulnerability operates under CWE-20, which classifies it as an improper input validation issue, and more specifically aligns with CWE-78, indicating command injection vulnerabilities that can occur when user-supplied data is not properly escaped or validated before being passed to system commands.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents a significant risk to systems running affected versions of Blueman, particularly in multi-user environments where local users might attempt to exploit the privilege escalation. Attackers can leverage this weakness to execute arbitrary code with elevated privileges, potentially leading to full system compromise. The attack vector is classified as local privilege escalation, meaning the exploit requires physical or logical access to the target system but does not require network access or remote exploitation capabilities. This characteristic makes the vulnerability particularly concerning for desktop environments where users might have legitimate access to the system but should not possess administrative privileges.
The impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple privilege escalation, as it can enable attackers to manipulate network configurations, potentially disrupting network services or creating persistent backdoors. The exploitation process typically involves crafting specific dhcp_handler arguments that trigger the vulnerable code path, allowing the attacker to execute commands with higher privileges than initially granted. This weakness can be mapped to ATT&CK technique T1068, which covers local privilege escalation, and T1059, covering command and scripting interpreter usage, as the vulnerability likely involves execution of system commands through the compromised network management interface.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2015-8612 primarily focus on updating to Blueman version 2.0.3 or later, which contains the necessary patches to address the privilege escalation vulnerability. System administrators should also implement additional security controls such as restricting local user access to network management interfaces, implementing proper input validation mechanisms, and monitoring for suspicious network configuration changes. The vulnerability highlights the importance of proper privilege separation in system components and demonstrates how seemingly minor input validation flaws can create significant security risks. Organizations should also consider implementing principle of least privilege principles for network management tools and regularly audit their system configurations to detect potential exploitation attempts. The fix implemented in version 2.0.3 likely includes enhanced input validation for the dhcp_handler parameter and proper privilege checking mechanisms to prevent unauthorized escalation of privileges through the network management interface.