CVE-2023-23558 in Terminal
Summary
by MITRE • 02/16/2023
In Eternal Terminal 6.2.1, TelemetryService uses fixed paths in /tmp. For example, a local attacker can create /tmp/.sentry-native-etserver with mode 0777 before the etserver process is started. The attacker can choose to read sensitive information from that file, or modify the information in that file.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/13/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2023-23558 affects Eternal Terminal version 6.2.1, specifically within the TelemetryService component that utilizes fixed paths in the /tmp directory. This represents a classic path manipulation and privilege escalation vulnerability that exposes the system to local attackers who can exploit predictable temporary file locations. The issue stems from the service's reliance on hardcoded temporary file paths without proper security measures to prevent unauthorized access or modification by malicious local users. The vulnerability manifests when the etserver process starts and attempts to access files in /tmp, creating opportunities for attackers to establish malicious file presence before the legitimate service operates. This flaw directly violates security best practices for temporary file handling and demonstrates poor privilege separation in the application's design.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the TelemetryService creating temporary files with predictable paths such as /tmp/.sentry-native-etserver, which are accessible with world-writable permissions set to 0777. This configuration allows any local user to manipulate these temporary files, potentially reading sensitive data that the service might store or modifying the file contents to inject malicious data. The attack vector is particularly concerning because it occurs during service initialization, before proper authentication or authorization checks take place. The vulnerability enables attackers to potentially read sensitive information from the temporary file, modify service behavior through content injection, or even execute arbitrary code if the service processes the manipulated file contents without proper validation. This represents a direct violation of the principle of least privilege and demonstrates inadequate sandboxing of temporary file operations.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it creates a persistent attack surface that can be exploited by local users with minimal privileges. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to gain unauthorized access to sensitive telemetry data, potentially compromising system integrity and confidentiality. The vulnerability affects the availability and integrity of the Eternal Terminal service, as malicious modifications to temporary files can cause service disruption or manipulation of collected telemetry information. The threat landscape for this vulnerability aligns with attack techniques categorized under privilege escalation and lateral movement in the MITRE ATT&CK framework, specifically targeting local persistence and credential access. Organizations using Eternal Terminal in environments where local privilege escalation is a concern face significant risk from this vulnerability, particularly in multi-user systems or shared computing environments.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2023-23558 should focus on implementing proper temporary file handling mechanisms that avoid predictable paths and ensure appropriate file permissions. The recommended approach involves using secure temporary file creation functions that generate unique, non-predictable file names and setting restrictive file permissions that prevent unauthorized access. System administrators should consider implementing proper file system hardening measures, including restricting write access to /tmp for non-privileged users and monitoring for suspicious file creation patterns. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of following secure coding practices such as those outlined in CWE-377 and CWE-378, which address insecure temporary file creation and improper file permissions. Organizations should prioritize updating to patched versions of Eternal Terminal, implementing monitoring for unauthorized file modifications in temporary directories, and conducting regular security assessments to identify similar path manipulation vulnerabilities in other applications. Additionally, the implementation of mandatory access controls and enhanced logging of temporary file operations can provide early detection capabilities for potential exploitation attempts.