CVE-2023-4413 in Rootkit Hunter
Summary
by MITRE • 08/18/2023
A vulnerability was found in rkhunter Rootkit Hunter 1.4.4/1.4.6. It has been classified as problematic. Affected is an unknown function of the file /var/log/rkhunter.log. The manipulation leads to sensitive information in log files. An attack has to be approached locally. The complexity of an attack is rather high. The exploitability is told to be difficult. The exploit has been disclosed to the public and may be used. The identifier of this vulnerability is VDB-237516.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/11/2026
The vulnerability in rkhunter Rootkit Hunter version 1.4.4/1.4.6 represents a significant security concern related to improper handling of sensitive information within log files. This issue affects the logging functionality of the system integrity monitoring tool, specifically targeting the /var/log/rkhunter.log file which serves as a critical repository for security-related events and system status reports. The vulnerability has been classified with a problematic rating due to its potential to expose confidential data that should remain protected from unauthorized access.
The technical flaw manifests in an unknown function within the rkhunter logging mechanism where sensitive information becomes inadvertently written to log files without proper sanitization or access controls. This allows local attackers with read permissions on the log file to extract potentially valuable system information, credentials, or other confidential data that the tool was designed to protect. The vulnerability's classification as problematic indicates that while it may not be immediately exploitable in all scenarios, it creates a persistent security risk that could be leveraged by determined adversaries.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it undermines the fundamental trust placed in system monitoring tools to maintain confidentiality of sensitive data. Attackers with local access can exploit this weakness to gather intelligence about system configurations, potentially identifying weaknesses in other security controls or gaining insights that could facilitate further attacks. The high attack complexity and difficult exploitability characteristics suggest that while not trivial to exploit, the vulnerability represents a legitimate threat vector that requires immediate attention from system administrators.
This vulnerability aligns with CWE-200, which addresses "Information Exposure," and potentially relates to CWE-532, "Information Exposure Through Log Files," both of which are fundamental concerns in security engineering. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to T1070.004 "Indicator Removal on Host: File Deletion" through potential log manipulation, and could enable T1082 "System Information Discovery" by allowing attackers to gather system details from exposed log entries. The public disclosure of the exploit (VDB-237516) further emphasizes the urgency for remediation.
Mitigation strategies should focus on immediate implementation of proper log file access controls through restrictive file permissions, regular monitoring of log file contents for unauthorized information exposure, and consideration of alternative logging mechanisms that better protect sensitive data. System administrators should conduct thorough log reviews to identify any already compromised information and ensure that updated versions of rkhunter are deployed as soon as possible to eliminate this vulnerability from their security infrastructure.