Vulnerabilities > CVE-2008-3920 - Permissions, Privileges, and Access Controls vulnerability in Bitlbee

047910
CVSS 7.5 - HIGH
Attack vector
NETWORK
Attack complexity
LOW
Privileges required
NONE
Confidentiality impact
PARTIAL
Integrity impact
PARTIAL
Availability impact
PARTIAL
network
low complexity
bitlbee
CWE-264
nessus

Summary

Unspecified vulnerability in BitlBee before 1.2.2 allows remote attackers to "recreate" and "hijack" existing accounts via unspecified vectors.

Common Attack Pattern Enumeration and Classification (CAPEC)

  • Accessing, Modifying or Executing Executable Files
    An attack of this type exploits a system's configuration that allows an attacker to either directly access an executable file, for example through shell access; or in a possible worst case allows an attacker to upload a file and then execute it. Web servers, ftp servers, and message oriented middleware systems which have many integration points are particularly vulnerable, because both the programmers and the administrators must be in synch regarding the interfaces and the correct privileges for each interface.
  • Leverage Executable Code in Non-Executable Files
    An attack of this type exploits a system's trust in configuration and resource files, when the executable loads the resource (such as an image file or configuration file) the attacker has modified the file to either execute malicious code directly or manipulate the target process (e.g. application server) to execute based on the malicious configuration parameters. Since systems are increasingly interrelated mashing up resources from local and remote sources the possibility of this attack occurring is high. The attack can be directed at a client system, such as causing buffer overrun through loading seemingly benign image files, as in Microsoft Security Bulletin MS04-028 where specially crafted JPEG files could cause a buffer overrun once loaded into the browser. Another example targets clients reading pdf files. In this case the attacker simply appends javascript to the end of a legitimate url for a pdf (http://www.gnucitizen.org/blog/danger-danger-danger/) http://path/to/pdf/file.pdf#whatever_name_you_want=javascript:your_code_here The client assumes that they are reading a pdf, but the attacker has modified the resource and loaded executable javascript into the client's browser process. The attack can also target server processes. The attacker edits the resource or configuration file, for example a web.xml file used to configure security permissions for a J2EE app server, adding role name "public" grants all users with the public role the ability to use the administration functionality. The server trusts its configuration file to be correct, but when they are manipulated, the attacker gains full control.
  • Blue Boxing
    This type of attack against older telephone switches and trunks has been around for decades. A tone is sent by an adversary to impersonate a supervisor signal which has the effect of rerouting or usurping command of the line. While the US infrastructure proper may not contain widespread vulnerabilities to this type of attack, many companies are connected globally through call centers and business process outsourcing. These international systems may be operated in countries which have not upgraded Telco infrastructure and so are vulnerable to Blue boxing. Blue boxing is a result of failure on the part of the system to enforce strong authorization for administrative functions. While the infrastructure is different than standard current applications like web applications, there are historical lessons to be learned to upgrade the access control for administrative functions.
  • Restful Privilege Elevation
    Rest uses standard HTTP (Get, Put, Delete) style permissions methods, but these are not necessarily correlated generally with back end programs. Strict interpretation of HTTP get methods means that these HTTP Get services should not be used to delete information on the server, but there is no access control mechanism to back up this logic. This means that unless the services are properly ACL'd and the application's service implementation are following these guidelines then an HTTP request can easily execute a delete or update on the server side. The attacker identifies a HTTP Get URL such as http://victimsite/updateOrder, which calls out to a program to update orders on a database or other resource. The URL is not idempotent so the request can be submitted multiple times by the attacker, additionally, the attacker may be able to exploit the URL published as a Get method that actually performs updates (instead of merely retrieving data). This may result in malicious or inadvertent altering of data on the server.
  • Target Programs with Elevated Privileges
    This attack targets programs running with elevated privileges. The attacker would try to leverage a bug in the running program and get arbitrary code to execute with elevated privileges. For instance an attacker would look for programs that write to the system directories or registry keys (such as HKLM, which stores a number of critical Windows environment variables). These programs are typically running with elevated privileges and have usually not been designed with security in mind. Such programs are excellent exploit targets because they yield lots of power when they break. The malicious user try to execute its code at the same level as a privileged system call.

Nessus

  • NASL familyGentoo Local Security Checks
    NASL idGENTOO_GLSA-200809-14.NASL
    descriptionThe remote host is affected by the vulnerability described in GLSA-200809-14 (BitlBee: Security bypass) Multiple unspecified vulnerabilities were reported, including a NULL pointer dereference. Impact : A remote attacker could exploit these vulnerabilities to overwrite existing IM accounts. Workaround : There is no known workaround at this time.
    last seen2020-06-01
    modified2020-06-02
    plugin id34272
    published2008-09-24
    reporterThis script is Copyright (C) 2008-2019 Tenable Network Security, Inc.
    sourcehttps://www.tenable.com/plugins/nessus/34272
    titleGLSA-200809-14 : BitlBee: Security bypass
    code
    #%NASL_MIN_LEVEL 80502
    #
    # (C) Tenable Network Security, Inc.
    #
    # The descriptive text and package checks in this plugin were
    # extracted from Gentoo Linux Security Advisory GLSA 200809-14.
    #
    # The advisory text is Copyright (C) 2001-2016 Gentoo Foundation, Inc.
    # and licensed under the Creative Commons - Attribution / Share Alike 
    # license. See http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/
    #
    
    include("compat.inc");
    
    if (description)
    {
      script_id(34272);
      script_version("1.15");
      script_cvs_date("Date: 2019/08/02 13:32:45");
    
      script_cve_id("CVE-2008-3920", "CVE-2008-3969");
      script_xref(name:"GLSA", value:"200809-14");
    
      script_name(english:"GLSA-200809-14 : BitlBee: Security bypass");
      script_summary(english:"Checks for updated package(s) in /var/db/pkg");
    
      script_set_attribute(
        attribute:"synopsis", 
        value:
    "The remote Gentoo host is missing one or more security-related
    patches."
      );
      script_set_attribute(
        attribute:"description", 
        value:
    "The remote host is affected by the vulnerability described in GLSA-200809-14
    (BitlBee: Security bypass)
    
        Multiple unspecified vulnerabilities were reported, including a NULL
        pointer dereference.
      
    Impact :
    
        A remote attacker could exploit these vulnerabilities to overwrite
        existing IM accounts.
      
    Workaround :
    
        There is no known workaround at this time."
      );
      script_set_attribute(
        attribute:"see_also",
        value:"https://security.gentoo.org/glsa/200809-14"
      );
      script_set_attribute(
        attribute:"solution", 
        value:
    "All BitlBee users should upgrade to the latest version:
        # emerge --sync
        # emerge --ask --oneshot --verbose '>=net-im/bitlbee-1.2.3'"
      );
      script_set_cvss_base_vector("CVSS2#AV:N/AC:L/Au:N/C:P/I:P/A:P");
      script_cwe_id(264, 399);
    
      script_set_attribute(attribute:"plugin_type", value:"local");
      script_set_attribute(attribute:"cpe", value:"p-cpe:/a:gentoo:linux:bitlbee");
      script_set_attribute(attribute:"cpe", value:"cpe:/o:gentoo:linux");
    
      script_set_attribute(attribute:"patch_publication_date", value:"2008/09/23");
      script_set_attribute(attribute:"plugin_publication_date", value:"2008/09/24");
      script_end_attributes();
    
      script_category(ACT_GATHER_INFO);
      script_copyright(english:"This script is Copyright (C) 2008-2019 Tenable Network Security, Inc.");
      script_family(english:"Gentoo Local Security Checks");
    
      script_dependencies("ssh_get_info.nasl");
      script_require_keys("Host/local_checks_enabled", "Host/Gentoo/release", "Host/Gentoo/qpkg-list");
    
      exit(0);
    }
    
    
    include("audit.inc");
    include("global_settings.inc");
    include("qpkg.inc");
    
    if (!get_kb_item("Host/local_checks_enabled")) audit(AUDIT_LOCAL_CHECKS_NOT_ENABLED);
    if (!get_kb_item("Host/Gentoo/release")) audit(AUDIT_OS_NOT, "Gentoo");
    if (!get_kb_item("Host/Gentoo/qpkg-list")) audit(AUDIT_PACKAGE_LIST_MISSING);
    
    
    flag = 0;
    
    if (qpkg_check(package:"net-im/bitlbee", unaffected:make_list("ge 1.2.3"), vulnerable:make_list("lt 1.2.3"))) flag++;
    
    if (flag)
    {
      if (report_verbosity > 0) security_hole(port:0, extra:qpkg_report_get());
      else security_hole(0);
      exit(0);
    }
    else
    {
      tested = qpkg_tests_get();
      if (tested) audit(AUDIT_PACKAGE_NOT_AFFECTED, tested);
      else audit(AUDIT_PACKAGE_NOT_INSTALLED, "BitlBee");
    }
    
  • NASL familyFedora Local Security Checks
    NASL idFEDORA_2008-7830.NASL
    descriptionUpstream released Bitlbee 1.2.3 with the following changes to the former release: - Fixed one more flaw similar to the previous hijacking bug, caused by inconsistent handling of the USTATUS_IDENTIFIED state. All code touching these variables was reviewed and should be correct now. Finished 7 Sep 2008 Note that Tenable Network Security has extracted the preceding description block directly from the Fedora security advisory. Tenable has attempted to automatically clean and format it as much as possible without introducing additional issues.
    last seen2020-06-01
    modified2020-06-02
    plugin id34176
    published2008-09-12
    reporterThis script is Copyright (C) 2008-2019 Tenable Network Security, Inc.
    sourcehttps://www.tenable.com/plugins/nessus/34176
    titleFedora 9 : bitlbee-1.2.3-1.fc9 (2008-7830)
    code
    #%NASL_MIN_LEVEL 80502
    #
    # (C) Tenable Network Security, Inc.
    #
    # The descriptive text and package checks in this plugin were  
    # extracted from Fedora Security Advisory 2008-7830.
    #
    
    include("compat.inc");
    
    if (description)
    {
      script_id(34176);
      script_version ("1.11");
      script_cvs_date("Date: 2019/08/02 13:32:28");
    
      script_cve_id("CVE-2008-3920");
      script_xref(name:"FEDORA", value:"2008-7830");
    
      script_name(english:"Fedora 9 : bitlbee-1.2.3-1.fc9 (2008-7830)");
      script_summary(english:"Checks rpm output for the updated package.");
    
      script_set_attribute(
        attribute:"synopsis", 
        value:"The remote Fedora host is missing a security update."
      );
      script_set_attribute(
        attribute:"description", 
        value:
    "Upstream released Bitlbee 1.2.3 with the following changes to the
    former release: - Fixed one more flaw similar to the previous
    hijacking bug, caused by inconsistent handling of the
    USTATUS_IDENTIFIED state. All code touching these variables was
    reviewed and should be correct now. Finished 7 Sep 2008
    
    Note that Tenable Network Security has extracted the preceding
    description block directly from the Fedora security advisory. Tenable
    has attempted to automatically clean and format it as much as possible
    without introducing additional issues."
      );
      script_set_attribute(
        attribute:"see_also",
        value:"https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=461424"
      );
      # https://lists.fedoraproject.org/pipermail/package-announce/2008-September/014223.html
      script_set_attribute(
        attribute:"see_also",
        value:"http://www.nessus.org/u?3b44a984"
      );
      script_set_attribute(
        attribute:"solution", 
        value:"Update the affected bitlbee package."
      );
      script_set_cvss_base_vector("CVSS2#AV:N/AC:L/Au:N/C:P/I:P/A:P");
      script_cwe_id(264);
    
      script_set_attribute(attribute:"plugin_type", value:"local");
      script_set_attribute(attribute:"cpe", value:"p-cpe:/a:fedoraproject:fedora:bitlbee");
      script_set_attribute(attribute:"cpe", value:"cpe:/o:fedoraproject:fedora:9");
    
      script_set_attribute(attribute:"patch_publication_date", value:"2008/09/11");
      script_set_attribute(attribute:"plugin_publication_date", value:"2008/09/12");
      script_end_attributes();
    
      script_category(ACT_GATHER_INFO);
      script_copyright(english:"This script is Copyright (C) 2008-2019 Tenable Network Security, Inc.");
      script_family(english:"Fedora Local Security Checks");
    
      script_dependencies("ssh_get_info.nasl");
      script_require_keys("Host/local_checks_enabled", "Host/RedHat/release", "Host/RedHat/rpm-list");
    
      exit(0);
    }
    
    
    include("audit.inc");
    include("global_settings.inc");
    include("rpm.inc");
    
    if (!get_kb_item("Host/local_checks_enabled")) audit(AUDIT_LOCAL_CHECKS_NOT_ENABLED);
    release = get_kb_item("Host/RedHat/release");
    if (isnull(release) || "Fedora" >!< release) audit(AUDIT_OS_NOT, "Fedora");
    os_ver = eregmatch(pattern: "Fedora.*release ([0-9]+)", string:release);
    if (isnull(os_ver)) audit(AUDIT_UNKNOWN_APP_VER, "Fedora");
    os_ver = os_ver[1];
    if (! ereg(pattern:"^9([^0-9]|$)", string:os_ver)) audit(AUDIT_OS_NOT, "Fedora 9.x", "Fedora " + os_ver);
    
    if (!get_kb_item("Host/RedHat/rpm-list")) audit(AUDIT_PACKAGE_LIST_MISSING);
    
    cpu = get_kb_item("Host/cpu");
    if (isnull(cpu)) audit(AUDIT_UNKNOWN_ARCH);
    if ("x86_64" >!< cpu && cpu !~ "^i[3-6]86$") audit(AUDIT_LOCAL_CHECKS_NOT_IMPLEMENTED, "Fedora", cpu);
    
    flag = 0;
    if (rpm_check(release:"FC9", reference:"bitlbee-1.2.3-1.fc9")) flag++;
    
    
    if (flag)
    {
      if (report_verbosity > 0) security_hole(port:0, extra:rpm_report_get());
      else security_hole(0);
      exit(0);
    }
    else
    {
      tested = pkg_tests_get();
      if (tested) audit(AUDIT_PACKAGE_NOT_AFFECTED, tested);
      else audit(AUDIT_PACKAGE_NOT_INSTALLED, "bitlbee");
    }
    
  • NASL familyFreeBSD Local Security Checks
    NASL idFREEBSD_PKG_24EC781B8C1111DD99230016D325A0ED.NASL
    descriptionSecunia reports : Some security issues have been reported in BitlBee, which can be exploited by malicious people to bypass certain security restrictions and hijack accounts. The security issues are caused due to unspecified errors, which can be exploited to overwrite existing accounts.
    last seen2020-06-01
    modified2020-06-02
    plugin id34301
    published2008-09-28
    reporterThis script is Copyright (C) 2008-2019 and is owned by Tenable, Inc. or an Affiliate thereof.
    sourcehttps://www.tenable.com/plugins/nessus/34301
    titleFreeBSD : bitlbee -- account recreation security issues (24ec781b-8c11-11dd-9923-0016d325a0ed)
  • NASL familyFedora Local Security Checks
    NASL idFEDORA_2008-7274.NASL
    descriptionUpstream released Bitlbee 1.2.2 with the following changes to the former release: - Security bugfix: It was possible to hijack accounts (without gaining access to the old account, it
    last seen2020-06-01
    modified2020-06-02
    plugin id34102
    published2008-09-08
    reporterThis script is Copyright (C) 2008-2019 Tenable Network Security, Inc.
    sourcehttps://www.tenable.com/plugins/nessus/34102
    titleFedora 9 : bitlbee-1.2.2-1.fc9 (2008-7274)
  • NASL familyFedora Local Security Checks
    NASL idFEDORA_2008-7712.NASL
    descriptionUpstream released Bitlbee 1.2.2 with the following changes to the former release: - Security bugfix: It was possible to hijack accounts (without gaining access to the old account, it
    last seen2020-06-01
    modified2020-06-02
    plugin id34145
    published2008-09-10
    reporterThis script is Copyright (C) 2008-2019 Tenable Network Security, Inc.
    sourcehttps://www.tenable.com/plugins/nessus/34145
    titleFedora 8 : bitlbee-1.2.2-1.fc8 (2008-7712)