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
| Name | Vendor | Start Version | End Version |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtualenv | Python | * | 1.4.9 (including) |
| Virtualenv | Python | 0.8 (including) | 0.8 (including) |
| Virtualenv | Python | 0.8.1 (including) | 0.8.1 (including) |
| Virtualenv | Python | 0.8.2 (including) | 0.8.2 (including) |
| Virtualenv | Python | 0.8.3 (including) | 0.8.3 (including) |
| Virtualenv | Python | 0.8.4 (including) | 0.8.4 (including) |
| Virtualenv | Python | 0.9 (including) | 0.9 (including) |
| Virtualenv | Python | 0.9.1 (including) | 0.9.1 (including) |
| Virtualenv | Python | 0.9.2 (including) | 0.9.2 (including) |
| Virtualenv | Python | 1.0 (including) | 1.0 (including) |
| Virtualenv | Python | 1.1 (including) | 1.1 (including) |
| Virtualenv | Python | 1.1.1 (including) | 1.1.1 (including) |
| Virtualenv | Python | 1.2 (including) | 1.2 (including) |
| Virtualenv | Python | 1.3 (including) | 1.3 (including) |
| Virtualenv | Python | 1.3.1 (including) | 1.3.1 (including) |
| Virtualenv | Python | 1.3.2 (including) | 1.3.2 (including) |
| Virtualenv | Python | 1.3.3 (including) | 1.3.3 (including) |
| Virtualenv | Python | 1.3.4 (including) | 1.3.4 (including) |
| Virtualenv | Python | 1.4 (including) | 1.4 (including) |
| Virtualenv | Python | 1.4.1 (including) | 1.4.1 (including) |
| Virtualenv | Python | 1.4.2 (including) | 1.4.2 (including) |
| Virtualenv | Python | 1.4.3 (including) | 1.4.3 (including) |
| Virtualenv | Python | 1.4.4 (including) | 1.4.4 (including) |
| Virtualenv | Python | 1.4.5 (including) | 1.4.5 (including) |
| Virtualenv | Python | 1.4.6 (including) | 1.4.6 (including) |
| Virtualenv | Python | 1.4.7 (including) | 1.4.7 (including) |
| Virtualenv | Python | 1.4.8 (including) | 1.4.8 (including) |
| Python-virtualenv | Ubuntu | lucid | * |
| Python-virtualenv | Ubuntu | maverick | * |
| Python-virtualenv | Ubuntu | natty | * |
| Python-virtualenv | 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://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
- 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