CVE-2024-23495 in Distribution for GDB Software
Summary
by MITRE • 08/14/2024
Incorrect default permissions in some Intel(R) Distribution for GDB software before version 2024.0.1 may allow an authenticated user to potentially enable escalation of privilege via local access.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/31/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2024-23495 affects Intel(R) Distribution for GDB software versions prior to 2024.0.1, representing a critical security flaw that could potentially enable privilege escalation through local access. This issue stems from improper default permission settings within the software distribution, creating an avenue for authenticated users to exploit local system resources. The vulnerability is particularly concerning as it targets a debugging tool that is commonly used in development environments and system administration tasks, where elevated privileges are often required for proper functionality. The flaw exists in the default configuration of the Intel Distribution for GDB software package, which typically includes components such as gdbserver and various debugging utilities that may be installed with overly permissive access controls.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability lies in the incorrect implementation of default file and directory permissions during the software installation process. When Intel Distribution for GDB is installed on a system, certain components are configured with permissions that are either too broad or improperly restricted, allowing local users who have authenticated access to the system to potentially escalate their privileges. This misconfiguration can manifest in several ways including world-writable directories, improperly secured configuration files, or executable components that can be modified by non-privileged users. The vulnerability specifically impacts the default installation behavior of the software, meaning that systems running affected versions are inherently at risk without any additional exploitation required beyond authentication. This type of flaw falls under the CWE-732 category of Incorrect Permission Assignment for Critical Resources, which is a well-documented weakness in software security design that directly relates to improper access control mechanisms.
The operational impact of CVE-2024-23495 extends beyond simple privilege escalation, as it can enable attackers to gain unauthorized access to sensitive system resources and potentially compromise the integrity of the entire system. An authenticated local user who can leverage this vulnerability could potentially modify debugging components, inject malicious code into the debugging process, or access sensitive information that should be protected. In enterprise environments where Intel Distribution for GDB is commonly used for software development and system troubleshooting, this vulnerability could be exploited to gain access to development environments, production systems, or sensitive data repositories. The impact is particularly severe in environments where the debugging tools are used with elevated privileges or when the tools are installed on systems with multiple users, as the default permissions may inadvertently grant access to components that should be restricted. The vulnerability's local nature means that exploitation requires only local system access, making it a significant concern for environments where physical or network access is not strictly controlled.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2024-23495 should focus on updating to the patched version 2024.0.1 or later, which addresses the default permission issues through proper access control configuration. Organizations should immediately assess their systems to identify installations of the affected Intel Distribution for GDB software and implement the necessary updates. In addition to the software update, system administrators should review and correct any existing permission settings that may have been affected by the improper default configurations. This includes verifying that debugging components, configuration files, and related directories have appropriate access controls that restrict access to authorized users only. The mitigation process should also include monitoring for any unauthorized changes to debugging components and implementing proper access logging for debugging activities. From an operational security perspective, organizations should consider implementing principle of least privilege controls for debugging tools and regularly audit system permissions to ensure that default configurations have not been modified in ways that could introduce similar vulnerabilities. This vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper software security design and the need for regular security assessments of development tools and system components that may be used with elevated privileges. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this type of vulnerability under privilege escalation techniques, specifically targeting the use of insecure default configurations to gain elevated system access. Organizations should also consider implementing additional security controls such as mandatory access controls, file integrity monitoring, and regular security scanning to detect and prevent exploitation of similar permission-related vulnerabilities in their environments.