CVE-2011-4617

virtualenv.py in virtualenv before 1.5 allows local users to overwrite arbitrary files via a symlink attack on a certain file in /tmp/.

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

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://lists.fedoraproject.org/pipermail/package-announce/2012-January/071638.html
• http://lists.fedoraproject.org/pipermail/package-announce/2012-January/071643.html
• http://openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2011/12/19/2
• http://openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2011/12/19/4
• http://openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2011/12/19/5
• http://secunia.com/advisories/47240
• https://bitbucket.org/ianb/virtualenv/changeset/8be37c509fe5