CVE-2015-1869

The default event handling scripts in Automatic Bug Reporting Tool (ABRT) allow local users to gain privileges as demonstrated by a symlink attack on a var_log_messages 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

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/2015/04/17/5
• https://github.com/abrt/abrt/commit/3287aa12eb205cff95cdd00d6d6c5c9a4f8f0eca
• https://github.com/abrt/abrt/commit/7417505e1d93cc95ec648b74e3c801bc67aacb9f
• https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=1212861