CVE-2018-1000093 in CryptoNote
Summary
by MITRE
CryptoNote version version 0.8.9 and possibly later contain a local RPC server which does not require authentication, as a result the walletd and the simplewallet RPC daemons will process any commands sent to them, resulting in remote command execution and a takeover of the cryptocurrency wallet if an attacker can trick an application such as a web browser into connecting and sending a command for example. This attack appears to be exploitable via a victim visiting a webpage hosting malicious content that trigger such behavior.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/21/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-1000093 affects CryptoNote version 0.8.9 and potentially subsequent releases, presenting a critical security flaw in the local RPC server implementation. This vulnerability stems from the absence of authentication requirements within the walletd and simplewallet RPC daemons, creating an attack surface where any remote entity can interact with the wallet services without proper authorization. The flaw resides in the RPC server configuration where the system fails to validate incoming connections or commands, allowing arbitrary execution of wallet operations through unauthenticated interfaces.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the RPC server's failure to enforce authentication mechanisms, which enables attackers to send malicious commands directly to the wallet daemon through network connections. When an application such as a web browser connects to the vulnerable RPC endpoint, it can execute commands within the context of the wallet service, potentially leading to complete compromise of the cryptocurrency wallet. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it leverages the browser's ability to connect to local services, making it exploitable through web-based attack vectors where users visit malicious websites that trigger automatic connections to the vulnerable RPC endpoints.
This vulnerability has significant operational impact as it allows for remote command execution and complete wallet takeover without requiring any privileged access or credentials. The attack vector described involves social engineering through web content that automatically triggers connections to the local RPC server, making it particularly dangerous for users who browse untrusted websites or visit compromised web pages. The potential consequences include unauthorized transactions, wallet fund theft, and complete loss of cryptocurrency assets stored in the compromised wallet.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-284 which addresses improper access control, specifically focusing on insufficient authentication mechanisms in network services. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to T1059 for command and scripting interpreter and T1068 for exploit for privilege escalation, as attackers can leverage the unauthenticated RPC interface to execute arbitrary commands and potentially escalate their privileges within the wallet environment. Organizations and users should immediately implement network segmentation to restrict access to RPC endpoints, disable unnecessary RPC services, and apply the latest security patches. Additionally, browser security configurations should be reviewed to prevent automatic connections to local services, and users should be educated about the risks of visiting untrusted websites that may contain malicious content designed to exploit this vulnerability through web-based attack vectors.