CVE Vulnerabilities

CVE-2009-3939

Incorrect Permission Assignment for Critical Resource

Published: Nov 16, 2009 | Modified: Jan 25, 2024
CVSS 3.x
7.1
HIGH
Source:
NVD
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:H
CVSS 2.x
6.6 MEDIUM
AV:L/AC:L/Au:N/C:N/I:C/A:C
RedHat/V2
3.6 MODERATE
AV:L/AC:L/Au:N/C:N/I:P/A:P
RedHat/V3
Ubuntu
LOW

The poll_mode_io file for the megaraid_sas driver in the Linux kernel 2.6.31.6 and earlier has world-writable permissions, which allows local users to change the I/O mode of the driver by modifying this file.

Weakness

The product specifies permissions for a security-critical resource in a way that allows that resource to be read or modified by unintended actors.

Affected Software

Name Vendor Start Version End Version
Linux_kernel Linux * 2.6.31.6 (including)
MRG for RHEL-5 RedHat kernel-rt-0:2.6.24.7-139.el5rt *
Red Hat Enterprise Linux 4 RedHat kernel-0:2.6.9-89.0.20.EL *
Red Hat Enterprise Linux 5 RedHat kernel-0:2.6.18-164.11.1.el5 *
Linux Ubuntu intrepid *
Linux Ubuntu jaunty *
Linux Ubuntu karmic *

Potential Mitigations

  • Run the code in a “jail” or similar sandbox environment that enforces strict boundaries between the process and the operating system. This may effectively restrict which files can be accessed in a particular directory or which commands can be executed by the software.
  • OS-level examples include the Unix chroot jail, AppArmor, and SELinux. In general, managed code may provide some protection. For example, java.io.FilePermission in the Java SecurityManager allows the software to specify restrictions on file operations.
  • This may not be a feasible solution, and it only limits the impact to the operating system; the rest of the application may still be subject to compromise.
  • Be careful to avoid CWE-243 and other weaknesses related to jails.

References