CVE-2019-17080 in mintinstall
Summary
by MITRE
mintinstall (aka Software Manager) 7.9.9 for Linux Mint allows code execution if a REVIEWS_CACHE file is controlled by an attacker, because an unpickle occurs.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/01/2025
The vulnerability CVE-2019-17080 resides within mintinstall, also known as Software Manager version 7.9.9, which is part of the Linux Mint operating system ecosystem. This flaw represents a critical security weakness that enables remote code execution under specific conditions, making it particularly dangerous for system administrators and end users who rely on the software manager for package installation and updates. The vulnerability stems from improper input validation and unsafe deserialization practices within the application's handling of review cache data, creating a pathway for malicious actors to compromise systems through crafted cache files.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability lies in the application's use of Python's pickle module for deserializing data stored in the REVIEWS_CACHE file. When the software manager processes this cache file, it directly calls pickle.loads() without proper sanitization or validation of the input data. This creates a classic deserialization vulnerability that allows attackers to craft malicious pickle data containing arbitrary Python code. The pickle module in Python is designed for object serialization and deserialization, but it executes arbitrary code during the deserialization process, making it inherently dangerous when processing untrusted input. According to CWE-502, this maps directly to the CWE-502 "Deserialization of Untrusted Data" weakness, which is categorized under the broader category of insecure deserialization vulnerabilities.
The operational impact of CVE-2019-17080 extends beyond simple privilege escalation, as it provides attackers with complete system compromise capabilities through the execution of arbitrary code. An attacker who can control the REVIEWS_CACHE file can execute malicious code with the privileges of the user running the mintinstall application, which typically runs with elevated permissions during package management operations. This vulnerability is particularly concerning because it can be exploited through legitimate software update mechanisms, making detection more difficult. The attack vector requires the victim to have the mintinstall application running and to process the malicious cache file, which could occur during normal system operations when the software manager checks for reviews or updates. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this as a privilege escalation technique through malicious code execution, potentially enabling lateral movement and persistence within compromised systems.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2019-17080 should focus on both immediate remediation and long-term architectural improvements to prevent similar vulnerabilities. The most effective immediate fix involves implementing proper input validation and sanitization for all data processed from external sources, particularly cache files and configuration data. Organizations should disable or restrict access to the REVIEWS_CACHE file and ensure that only trusted sources can provide review data to the software manager. System administrators should also implement monitoring for unauthorized modifications to cache files and establish secure file permissions for the mintinstall application and its supporting files. Additionally, the application should be updated to use safer serialization formats such as JSON instead of pickle for cache data, which eliminates the risk of arbitrary code execution during deserialization. Security patches should be applied immediately to all affected Linux Mint installations, and organizations should consider implementing network segmentation to limit the potential impact of successful exploitation attempts. The vulnerability highlights the importance of following secure coding practices and the principle of least privilege when handling data from external sources in system management applications.