jhead.c in Matthias Wandel jhead 2.84 and earlier allows local users to overwrite arbitrary files via a symlink attack on a temporary file.
Weakness
The product attempts to access a file based on the filename, but it does not properly prevent that filename from identifying a link or shortcut that resolves to an unintended resource.
Affected Software
| Name | Vendor | Start Version | End Version |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jhead | Sentex | * | 2.84 (including) |
| Jhead | Sentex | 1.2 (including) | 1.2 (including) |
| Jhead | Sentex | 1.3 (including) | 1.3 (including) |
| Jhead | Sentex | 1.4 (including) | 1.4 (including) |
| Jhead | Sentex | 1.5 (including) | 1.5 (including) |
| Jhead | Sentex | 1.6 (including) | 1.6 (including) |
| Jhead | Sentex | 1.7 (including) | 1.7 (including) |
| Jhead | Sentex | 1.8 (including) | 1.8 (including) |
| Jhead | Sentex | 1.9 (including) | 1.9 (including) |
| Jhead | Sentex | 2.0 (including) | 2.0 (including) |
| Jhead | Sentex | 2.1 (including) | 2.1 (including) |
| Jhead | Sentex | 2.2 (including) | 2.2 (including) |
| Jhead | Sentex | 2.3 (including) | 2.3 (including) |
| Jhead | Sentex | 2.4 (including) | 2.4 (including) |
| Jhead | Sentex | 2.4-1 (including) | 2.4-1 (including) |
| Jhead | Sentex | 2.4-2 (including) | 2.4-2 (including) |
| Jhead | Sentex | 2.5 (including) | 2.5 (including) |
| Jhead | Sentex | 2.6 (including) | 2.6 (including) |
| Jhead | Sentex | 2.7 (including) | 2.7 (including) |
| Jhead | Sentex | 2.8 (including) | 2.8 (including) |
| Jhead | Sentex | 2.82 (including) | 2.82 (including) |
| Jhead | Ubuntu | dapper | * |
| Jhead | Ubuntu | gutsy | * |
| Jhead | Ubuntu | hardy | * |
| Jhead | Ubuntu | upstream | * |
Potential Mitigations
- Follow the principle of least privilege when assigning access rights to entities in a software system.
- Denying access to a file can prevent an attacker from replacing that file with a link to a sensitive file. Ensure good compartmentalization in the system to provide protected areas that can be trusted.
Related Attack Patterns
- https://cwe.mitre.org/data/definitions/132.html
- https://cwe.mitre.org/data/definitions/17.html
- https://cwe.mitre.org/data/definitions/35.html
- https://cwe.mitre.org/data/definitions/76.html
References
- http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2008/10/15/5
- http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2008/10/15/6
- http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2008/10/16/3
- http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2009/02/06/5
- https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/jhead/+bug/271020
- http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2008/10/15/5
- http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2008/10/15/6
- http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2008/10/16/3
- http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2009/02/06/5
- https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/jhead/+bug/271020