CVE-2023-49347 in budgie-wpreviews
Summary
by MITRE • 12/15/2023
Temporary data passed between application components by Budgie Extras Windows Previews could potentially be viewed or manipulated. The data is stored in a location that is accessible to any user who has local access to the system. Attackers may read private information from windows, present false information to users, or deny access to the application.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/11/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2023-49347 affects the Budgie Extras Windows Previews component within the Budgie desktop environment, representing a critical security flaw in inter-process communication mechanisms. This issue stems from improper handling of temporary data storage that occurs during the operation of window preview functionalities. The flaw manifests when application components exchange transient data through insecure storage locations that lack proper access controls or encryption mechanisms. The vulnerability specifically impacts the desktop environment's ability to maintain confidentiality and integrity of temporary data that flows between different application modules. Security researchers have identified that the temporary data storage mechanism fails to implement adequate sandboxing or privilege separation, allowing unauthorized access to sensitive information. The affected system components operate under the assumption that local access users cannot manipulate or observe temporary data, creating a fundamental security oversight. This vulnerability directly relates to CWE-200, which addresses "Information Exposure," and CWE-284, concerning "Improper Access Control," as the temporary data storage lacks appropriate access restrictions. The issue can be leveraged by attackers who possess local system access to exploit the insecure data handling practices. Attackers with local access can potentially read private information from open windows, present false information to unsuspecting users, or even deny access to the application by manipulating the temporary data structures. The operational impact extends beyond simple information disclosure, as the vulnerability can be used to create misleading user experiences or disrupt normal application functionality. The vulnerability affects all users of the Budgie desktop environment who have local access to the system, making it particularly concerning for multi-user environments or shared workstations. The attack surface is expanded by the fact that the temporary data storage locations are accessible to any user account on the system, regardless of privileges or user context. This creates a significant risk for environments where users may not be fully trusted or where privilege escalation opportunities exist. The vulnerability demonstrates a failure in the principle of least privilege, where temporary data should only be accessible to authorized processes rather than any local user. The implementation of proper access controls and secure temporary data handling mechanisms would prevent unauthorized access to the preview data. This vulnerability can be mapped to ATT&CK technique T1059.001, which involves execution through command and scripting interpreter, as attackers may exploit the insecure temporary data storage to manipulate application behavior. The lack of proper data isolation between application components creates opportunities for privilege escalation and information manipulation. The vulnerability also aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566.001, involving social engineering through spearphishing attachments, as the false information presented to users could be crafted to appear legitimate. The security implications extend to user privacy and application integrity, as the temporary data storage mechanism fails to provide adequate protection for sensitive preview information. Mitigation strategies should focus on implementing secure temporary data handling, proper access controls, and privilege separation between application components. The recommended approach includes restricting access to temporary data storage locations, implementing proper file permissions, and ensuring that temporary data is properly cleaned up after use. Additionally, developers should consider implementing cryptographic protections for sensitive temporary data and establishing proper sandboxing mechanisms to isolate application components. The vulnerability underscores the importance of secure coding practices and proper security architecture design in desktop environments where multiple application components interact with shared data structures. Organizations should review their desktop environment configurations and ensure that temporary data storage mechanisms are properly secured against local access threats. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should include checks for insecure temporary data handling practices in desktop applications. The remediation process should involve comprehensive code review of the Budgie Extras Windows Previews component and implementation of proper data isolation mechanisms. System administrators should also consider implementing monitoring solutions to detect unauthorized access to temporary data storage locations. The vulnerability represents a significant risk for environments where local access is not properly controlled or where multiple users share the same system resources. The impact on user trust and application reliability makes this vulnerability particularly concerning for enterprise environments. Security teams should prioritize patching this vulnerability as part of their regular maintenance procedures, ensuring that the desktop environment remains secure against local access threats. The vulnerability highlights the need for comprehensive security testing of desktop application components, particularly those that handle user data or provide preview functionality. Proper threat modeling and secure design principles should be applied to prevent similar issues in future development cycles. The implementation of proper access controls and secure temporary data handling should become standard practice for all desktop environment components that process user information.