CVE-2017-2663 in subscription-manager
Summary
by MITRE
It was found that subscription-manager's DBus interface before 1.19.4 let unprivileged user access the com.redhat.RHSM1.Facts.GetFacts and com.redhat.RHSM1.Config.Set methods. An unprivileged local attacker could use these methods to gain access to private information, or launch a privilege escalation attack.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/27/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-2663 resides within the subscription-manager component of Red Hat Enterprise Linux systems, specifically affecting versions prior to 1.19.4. This issue manifests through the application's DBus interface which serves as a communication pathway between different system components and applications. The subscription-manager utility is designed to manage Red Hat subscription information and system registration, making it a critical component in enterprise Linux environments where system integrity and security are paramount.
The technical flaw stems from improper access control mechanisms within the DBus interface implementation. Unprivileged local users can exploit the com.redhat.RHSM1.Facts.GetFacts and com.redhat.RHSM1.Config.Set DBus methods without requiring elevated privileges. This represents a significant security oversight where the interface fails to properly validate user permissions before executing sensitive operations. The vulnerability falls under CWE-284, which specifically addresses improper access control issues in software systems. These DBus methods are designed to provide system facts and configuration settings that could include sensitive information about the system's environment, installed packages, network configuration, and other potentially valuable data for attackers.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is substantial as it enables local privilege escalation attacks and information disclosure. An unprivileged attacker can leverage these exposed methods to gather detailed system information that would typically be restricted to privileged users or system administrators. This information could include hardware specifications, installed software versions, network configurations, and other system metadata that could be used to plan further attacks or identify additional vulnerabilities. The ability to execute the Config.Set method particularly amplifies the threat as it allows modification of system configuration parameters, potentially leading to system compromise or disruption of normal operations.
The exploitation of this vulnerability aligns with techniques described in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under the privilege escalation and defense evasion tactics. Attackers can use this vulnerability to move laterally within a system or establish persistent access by modifying configuration settings that affect system behavior. The vulnerability is particularly concerning in enterprise environments where subscription-manager is frequently used and where the exposed information could reveal sensitive organizational details. Organizations should immediately update to subscription-manager version 1.19.4 or later to remediate this issue, as the patch addresses the underlying access control flaws in the DBus interface implementation. System administrators should also review DBus service configurations and implement additional monitoring to detect unauthorized access attempts to these interfaces.