CVE-2018-21025 in Centreon
Summary
by MITRE
In Centreon VM through 19.04.3, centreon-backup.pl allows attackers to become root via a crafted script, due to incorrect rights of sourced configuration files.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/05/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-21025 affects Centreon VM versions up to 19.04.3 and represents a critical privilege escalation flaw that allows attackers to gain root access through a malicious script execution. This vulnerability stems from improper file permissions and insecure configuration file handling within the centreon-backup.pl utility, which serves as a backup script for Centreon monitoring systems. The issue creates a dangerous attack vector where unprivileged users can manipulate the system's backup process to execute arbitrary code with elevated privileges.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability lies in the insecure handling of sourced configuration files within the centreon-backup.pl script. When the backup utility executes, it sources configuration files that are improperly protected with weak permissions, allowing attackers to modify these files before execution. This creates a classic race condition and privilege escalation scenario where malicious input can be injected into the system's backup process. The flaw aligns with CWE-276, which addresses incorrect file permissions and inadequate access control mechanisms that enable unauthorized modifications to system resources. The vulnerability specifically exploits the principle of least privilege by failing to properly validate or restrict access to critical system configuration components.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe and far-reaching within Centreon environments, as it provides attackers with complete system compromise capabilities. Once an attacker successfully exploits this vulnerability, they can execute commands as the root user, enabling them to modify system files, install persistent backdoors, exfiltrate sensitive monitoring data, or establish lateral movement within the network infrastructure. This vulnerability particularly affects organizations that rely heavily on Centreon for network monitoring and security operations, as it undermines the integrity of their monitoring systems and creates potential entry points for broader network compromises. The attack surface is particularly concerning in environments where Centreon is used for critical infrastructure monitoring, as it could enable attackers to manipulate security alerts and monitoring data.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2018-21025 should focus on immediate permission hardening and access control enforcement. Organizations must ensure that configuration files used by centreon-backup.pl are protected with appropriate file permissions, specifically setting restrictive permissions such as 600 or 640 to prevent unauthorized modifications. System administrators should implement proper file ownership controls, ensuring that only authorized users or system processes can modify these critical configuration files. The recommended remediation includes applying the vendor-provided security patches for Centreon VM versions 19.04.4 and later, which address the improper file permissions issue. Additionally, implementing regular security audits of system files and monitoring for unauthorized file modifications can help detect potential exploitation attempts. Organizations should also consider implementing the principle of least privilege for all system utilities, ensuring that backup scripts and configuration files operate with minimal required permissions to reduce the potential impact of similar vulnerabilities. This vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper access control mechanisms and file permission management in preventing privilege escalation attacks.