CVE-2016-4455 in Subscription Manager
Summary
by MITRE
The Subscription Manager package (aka subscription-manager) before 1.17.7-1 for Candlepin uses weak permissions (755) for subscription-manager cache directories, which allows local users to obtain sensitive information by reading files in the directories.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/01/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-4455 affects the Subscription Manager package, specifically versions prior to 1.17.7-1, within the Candlepin ecosystem. This issue resides in the subscription-manager cache directories where the software employs weak file permissions set at 755, creating a significant security exposure for local users. The Subscription Manager serves as a critical component for managing software subscriptions and entitlements in Red Hat Enterprise Linux environments, making this vulnerability particularly concerning for enterprise security postures.
The technical flaw stems from improper permission configuration in the cache directory structure where subscription-manager stores sensitive data related to software subscriptions, entitlement certificates, and system registration information. With 755 permissions, any local user on the system can read files within these directories, effectively bypassing the intended access controls. This misconfiguration violates fundamental security principles of least privilege and proper access control enforcement, as the cache directories contain information that should remain confidential to authorized system administrators and the subscription manager service itself. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-732, which addresses Incorrect Permission Assignment for Critical Resource, and represents a direct violation of the principle that sensitive data should not be accessible to unauthorized users.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as the cache directories may contain entitlement certificates, subscription keys, system identifiers, and other sensitive metadata that could be exploited by malicious local users. An attacker with local access could potentially extract subscription information that might reveal system configurations, software entitlements, and licensing details that could be used for further attacks or to bypass licensing controls. This vulnerability creates opportunities for privilege escalation and lateral movement within the system, as the extracted information could aid in crafting more sophisticated attacks or understanding the target environment. The exposure affects systems where subscription-manager is actively used for managing Red Hat subscriptions, potentially compromising the security of enterprise environments that rely on proper entitlement management.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2016-4455 involve upgrading to subscription-manager version 1.17.7-1 or later, which addresses the weak permissions issue by implementing proper directory access controls. System administrators should also conduct thorough audits of existing cache directories to ensure that proper permissions are enforced, typically requiring 700 or 750 permissions for cache directories with restricted access. The remediation process should include verifying that the subscription-manager service runs with appropriate privileges and that cache directories are not accessible to non-privileged users. Additionally, implementing regular security scanning and monitoring for permission changes can help detect similar issues in other system components. This vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper access control implementation and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1003.001 for Credential Dumping, as it provides unauthorized access to sensitive system information that could be leveraged for further compromise. Organizations should also consider implementing file integrity monitoring solutions to detect unauthorized changes to critical system directories and their permissions.