ext/common/ServerInstanceDir.h in Phusion Passenger gem before 4.0.6 for Ruby allows local users to gain privileges or possibly change the ownership of arbitrary directories via a symlink attack on a directory with a predictable name 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Passenger | Phusion | * | 4.0.5 (including) |
| Passenger | Phusion | 4.0.1 (including) | 4.0.1 (including) |
| Passenger | Phusion | 4.0.2 (including) | 4.0.2 (including) |
| Passenger | Phusion | 4.0.3 (including) | 4.0.3 (including) |
| Passenger | Phusion | 4.0.4 (including) | 4.0.4 (including) |
| RHEL 6 Version of OpenShift Enterprise 1.2 | RedHat | ruby193-rubygem-passenger-0:3.0.21-3.el6op | * |
| RHEL 6 Version of OpenShift Enterprise 1.2 | RedHat | rubygem-file-tail-0:1.0.5-4.el6op | * |
| RHEL 6 Version of OpenShift Enterprise 1.2 | RedHat | rubygem-passenger-0:3.0.21-3.el6op | * |
| RHEL 6 Version of OpenShift Enterprise 1.2 | RedHat | rubygem-spruz-0:0.2.5-4.el6op | * |
| Passenger | Ubuntu | lucid | * |
| Passenger | Ubuntu | precise | * |
| Passenger | Ubuntu | upstream | * |
| Ruby-passenger | Ubuntu | quantal | * |
| Ruby-passenger | Ubuntu | raring | * |
| Ruby-passenger | Ubuntu | saucy | * |
| Ruby-passenger | 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://rhn.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2013-1136.html
- http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2013/07/16/6
- https://code.google.com/p/phusion-passenger/issues/detail?id=910
- https://github.com/phusion/passenger/blob/release-4.0.6/NEWS
- https://github.com/phusion/passenger/commit/5483b3292cc2af1c83033eaaadec20dba4dcfd9b
- http://rhn.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2013-1136.html
- http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2013/07/16/6
- https://code.google.com/p/phusion-passenger/issues/detail?id=910
- https://github.com/phusion/passenger/blob/release-4.0.6/NEWS
- https://github.com/phusion/passenger/commit/5483b3292cc2af1c83033eaaadec20dba4dcfd9b