CVE-2017-15357

The setpermissions function in the auto-updater in Arq before 5.9.7 for Mac allows local users to gain root privileges via a symlink attack on the updater binary itself.

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

• https://m4.rkw.io/blog/cve201715357-local-root-privesc-in-arq-backup--596.html
• https://www.arqbackup.com/download/arq5_release_notes.html
• https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/43218/
• https://m4.rkw.io/blog/cve201715357-local-root-privesc-in-arq-backup--596.html
• https://www.arqbackup.com/download/arq5_release_notes.html
• https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/43218/