Vulnerabilities > CVE-2009-1299 - Link Following vulnerability in Pulseaudio 0.9.10/0.9.19

047910
CVSS 0.0 - NONE
Attack vector
UNKNOWN
Attack complexity
UNKNOWN
Privileges required
UNKNOWN
Confidentiality impact
UNKNOWN
Integrity impact
UNKNOWN
Availability impact
UNKNOWN

Summary

The pa_make_secure_dir function in core-util.c in PulseAudio 0.9.10 and 0.9.19 allows local users to change the ownership and permissions of arbitrary files via a symlink attack on a /tmp/.esd-##### temporary file.

Vulnerable Configurations

Part Description Count
Application
Pulseaudio
2

Common Attack Pattern Enumeration and Classification (CAPEC)

  • Symlink Attack
    An attacker positions a symbolic link in such a manner that the targeted user or application accesses the link's endpoint, assuming that it is accessing a file with the link's name. The endpoint file may be either output or input. If the file is output, the result is that the endpoint is modified, instead of a file at the intended location. Modifications to the endpoint file may include appending, overwriting, corrupting, changing permissions, or other modifications. In some variants of this attack the attacker may be able to control the change to a file while in other cases they cannot. The former is especially damaging since the attacker may be able to grant themselves increased privileges or insert false information, but the latter can also be damaging as it can expose sensitive information or corrupt or destroy vital system or application files. Alternatively, the endpoint file may serve as input to the targeted application. This can be used to feed malformed input into the target or to cause the target to process different information, possibly allowing the attacker to control the actions of the target or to cause the target to expose information to the attacker. Moreover, the actions taken on the endpoint file are undertaken with the permissions of the targeted user or application, which may exceed the permissions that the attacker would normally have.
  • 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.
  • Manipulating Input to File System Calls
    An attacker manipulates inputs to the target software which the target software passes to file system calls in the OS. The goal is to gain access to, and perhaps modify, areas of the file system that the target software did not intend to be accessible.

Nessus

  • NASL familySuSE Local Security Checks
    NASL idSUSE_11_1_LIBPULSE-BROWSE0-100312.NASL
    descriptionDue to a race condition in pulseaudio a local attacker could make pulseaudio change ownership and permissions of arbitrary files. The problem is only security relevant if pulseaudio is run in
    last seen2020-06-01
    modified2020-06-02
    plugin id45100
    published2010-03-19
    reporterThis script is Copyright (C) 2010-2019 Tenable Network Security, Inc.
    sourcehttps://www.tenable.com/plugins/nessus/45100
    titleopenSUSE Security Update : libpulse-browse0 (libpulse-browse0-2129)
    code
    #%NASL_MIN_LEVEL 80502
    #
    # (C) Tenable Network Security, Inc.
    #
    # The descriptive text and package checks in this plugin were
    # extracted from openSUSE Security Update libpulse-browse0-2129.
    #
    # The text description of this plugin is (C) SUSE LLC.
    #
    
    include("compat.inc");
    
    if (description)
    {
      script_id(45100);
      script_version("1.7");
      script_cvs_date("Date: 2019/10/25 13:36:38");
    
      script_cve_id("CVE-2009-1299");
    
      script_name(english:"openSUSE Security Update : libpulse-browse0 (libpulse-browse0-2129)");
      script_summary(english:"Check for the libpulse-browse0-2129 patch");
    
      script_set_attribute(
        attribute:"synopsis", 
        value:"The remote openSUSE host is missing a security update."
      );
      script_set_attribute(
        attribute:"description", 
        value:
    "Due to a race condition in pulseaudio a local attacker could make
    pulseaudio change ownership and permissions of arbitrary files. The
    problem is only security relevant if pulseaudio is run in 'system
    mode' which is not the case by default (CVE-2009-1299)."
      );
      script_set_attribute(
        attribute:"see_also",
        value:"https://bugzilla.novell.com/show_bug.cgi?id=584938"
      );
      script_set_attribute(
        attribute:"solution", 
        value:"Update the affected libpulse-browse0 packages."
      );
      script_set_cvss_base_vector("CVSS2#AV:L/AC:M/Au:N/C:C/I:C/A:C");
    
      script_set_attribute(attribute:"plugin_type", value:"local");
      script_set_attribute(attribute:"cpe", value:"p-cpe:/a:novell:opensuse:libpulse-browse0");
      script_set_attribute(attribute:"cpe", value:"p-cpe:/a:novell:opensuse:libpulse-devel");
      script_set_attribute(attribute:"cpe", value:"p-cpe:/a:novell:opensuse:libpulse-mainloop-glib0");
      script_set_attribute(attribute:"cpe", value:"p-cpe:/a:novell:opensuse:libpulse0");
      script_set_attribute(attribute:"cpe", value:"p-cpe:/a:novell:opensuse:libpulse0-32bit");
      script_set_attribute(attribute:"cpe", value:"p-cpe:/a:novell:opensuse:pulseaudio");
      script_set_attribute(attribute:"cpe", value:"p-cpe:/a:novell:opensuse:pulseaudio-esound-compat");
      script_set_attribute(attribute:"cpe", value:"p-cpe:/a:novell:opensuse:pulseaudio-lang");
      script_set_attribute(attribute:"cpe", value:"p-cpe:/a:novell:opensuse:pulseaudio-module-bluetooth");
      script_set_attribute(attribute:"cpe", value:"p-cpe:/a:novell:opensuse:pulseaudio-module-gconf");
      script_set_attribute(attribute:"cpe", value:"p-cpe:/a:novell:opensuse:pulseaudio-module-jack");
      script_set_attribute(attribute:"cpe", value:"p-cpe:/a:novell:opensuse:pulseaudio-module-lirc");
      script_set_attribute(attribute:"cpe", value:"p-cpe:/a:novell:opensuse:pulseaudio-module-x11");
      script_set_attribute(attribute:"cpe", value:"p-cpe:/a:novell:opensuse:pulseaudio-module-zeroconf");
      script_set_attribute(attribute:"cpe", value:"p-cpe:/a:novell:opensuse:pulseaudio-utils");
      script_set_attribute(attribute:"cpe", value:"cpe:/o:novell:opensuse:11.1");
    
      script_set_attribute(attribute:"patch_publication_date", value:"2010/03/12");
      script_set_attribute(attribute:"plugin_publication_date", value:"2010/03/19");
      script_end_attributes();
    
      script_category(ACT_GATHER_INFO);
      script_copyright(english:"This script is Copyright (C) 2010-2019 Tenable Network Security, Inc.");
      script_family(english:"SuSE Local Security Checks");
    
      script_dependencies("ssh_get_info.nasl");
      script_require_keys("Host/local_checks_enabled", "Host/SuSE/release", "Host/SuSE/rpm-list", "Host/cpu");
    
      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/SuSE/release");
    if (isnull(release) || release =~ "^(SLED|SLES)") audit(AUDIT_OS_NOT, "openSUSE");
    if (release !~ "^(SUSE11\.1)$") audit(AUDIT_OS_RELEASE_NOT, "openSUSE", "11.1", release);
    if (!get_kb_item("Host/SuSE/rpm-list")) audit(AUDIT_PACKAGE_LIST_MISSING);
    
    ourarch = get_kb_item("Host/cpu");
    if (!ourarch) audit(AUDIT_UNKNOWN_ARCH);
    if (ourarch !~ "^(i586|i686|x86_64)$") audit(AUDIT_ARCH_NOT, "i586 / i686 / x86_64", ourarch);
    
    flag = 0;
    
    if ( rpm_check(release:"SUSE11.1", reference:"libpulse-browse0-0.9.14-2.3.1") ) flag++;
    if ( rpm_check(release:"SUSE11.1", reference:"libpulse-devel-0.9.14-2.3.1") ) flag++;
    if ( rpm_check(release:"SUSE11.1", reference:"libpulse-mainloop-glib0-0.9.14-2.3.1") ) flag++;
    if ( rpm_check(release:"SUSE11.1", reference:"libpulse0-0.9.14-2.3.1") ) flag++;
    if ( rpm_check(release:"SUSE11.1", reference:"pulseaudio-0.9.14-2.3.1") ) flag++;
    if ( rpm_check(release:"SUSE11.1", reference:"pulseaudio-esound-compat-0.9.14-2.3.1") ) flag++;
    if ( rpm_check(release:"SUSE11.1", reference:"pulseaudio-lang-0.9.14-2.3.1") ) flag++;
    if ( rpm_check(release:"SUSE11.1", reference:"pulseaudio-module-bluetooth-0.9.14-2.3.1") ) flag++;
    if ( rpm_check(release:"SUSE11.1", reference:"pulseaudio-module-gconf-0.9.14-2.3.1") ) flag++;
    if ( rpm_check(release:"SUSE11.1", reference:"pulseaudio-module-jack-0.9.14-2.3.1") ) flag++;
    if ( rpm_check(release:"SUSE11.1", reference:"pulseaudio-module-lirc-0.9.14-2.3.1") ) flag++;
    if ( rpm_check(release:"SUSE11.1", reference:"pulseaudio-module-x11-0.9.14-2.3.1") ) flag++;
    if ( rpm_check(release:"SUSE11.1", reference:"pulseaudio-module-zeroconf-0.9.14-2.3.1") ) flag++;
    if ( rpm_check(release:"SUSE11.1", reference:"pulseaudio-utils-0.9.14-2.3.1") ) flag++;
    if ( rpm_check(release:"SUSE11.1", cpu:"x86_64", reference:"libpulse0-32bit-0.9.14-2.3.1") ) flag++;
    
    if (flag)
    {
      if (report_verbosity > 0) security_warning(port:0, extra:rpm_report_get());
      else security_warning(0);
      exit(0);
    }
    else
    {
      tested = pkg_tests_get();
      if (tested) audit(AUDIT_PACKAGE_NOT_AFFECTED, tested);
      else audit(AUDIT_PACKAGE_NOT_INSTALLED, "libpulse-browse0 / libpulse-devel / libpulse-mainloop-glib0 / etc");
    }
    
  • NASL familySuSE Local Security Checks
    NASL idSUSE_11_0_LIBPULSE-BROWSE0-100312.NASL
    descriptionDue to a race condition in pulseaudio a local attacker could make pulseaudio change ownership and permissions of arbitrary files. The problem is only security relevant if pulseaudio is run in
    last seen2020-06-01
    modified2020-06-02
    plugin id45097
    published2010-03-19
    reporterThis script is Copyright (C) 2010-2019 Tenable Network Security, Inc.
    sourcehttps://www.tenable.com/plugins/nessus/45097
    titleopenSUSE Security Update : libpulse-browse0 (libpulse-browse0-2129)
  • NASL familyMandriva Local Security Checks
    NASL idMANDRIVA_MDVSA-2010-124.NASL
    descriptionThe pa_make_secure_dir function in core-util.c in PulseAudio 0.9.10 and 0.9.19 allows local users to change the ownership and permissions of arbitrary files via a symlink attack on a /tmp/.esd-##### temporary file (CVE-2009-1299). This update fixes this issue.
    last seen2020-06-01
    modified2020-06-02
    plugin id47127
    published2010-06-24
    reporterThis script is Copyright (C) 2010-2019 and is owned by Tenable, Inc. or an Affiliate thereof.
    sourcehttps://www.tenable.com/plugins/nessus/47127
    titleMandriva Linux Security Advisory : pulseaudio (MDVSA-2010:124)
  • NASL familyGentoo Local Security Checks
    NASL idGENTOO_GLSA-201402-10.NASL
    descriptionThe remote host is affected by the vulnerability described in GLSA-201402-10 (PulseAudio: Insecure temporary file usage) The pa_make_secure_dir function in core-util.c does not handle temporary files securely. Impact : A local attacker could perform symlink attacks to overwrite arbitrary files with the privileges of the user running the application. Workaround : There is no known workaround at this time.
    last seen2020-06-01
    modified2020-06-02
    plugin id72410
    published2014-02-10
    reporterThis script is Copyright (C) 2014-2018 Tenable Network Security, Inc.
    sourcehttps://www.tenable.com/plugins/nessus/72410
    titleGLSA-201402-10 : PulseAudio: Insecure temporary file usage
  • NASL familyDebian Local Security Checks
    NASL idDEBIAN_DSA-2017.NASL
    descriptionDan Rosenberg discovered that the PulseAudio sound server creates a temporary directory with a predictable name. This allows a local attacker to create a Denial of Service condition or possibly disclose sensitive information to unprivileged users.
    last seen2020-06-01
    modified2020-06-02
    plugin id45062
    published2010-03-16
    reporterThis script is Copyright (C) 2010-2019 and is owned by Tenable, Inc. or an Affiliate thereof.
    sourcehttps://www.tenable.com/plugins/nessus/45062
    titleDebian DSA-2017-1 : pulseaudio - insecure temporary directory
  • NASL familySuSE Local Security Checks
    NASL idSUSE_11_2_LIBPULSE-BROWSE0-100312.NASL
    descriptionDue to a race condition in pulseaudio a local attacker could make pulseaudio change ownership and permissions of arbitrary files. The problem is only security relevant if pulseaudio is run in
    last seen2020-06-01
    modified2020-06-02
    plugin id45103
    published2010-03-19
    reporterThis script is Copyright (C) 2010-2019 Tenable Network Security, Inc.
    sourcehttps://www.tenable.com/plugins/nessus/45103
    titleopenSUSE Security Update : libpulse-browse0 (libpulse-browse0-2131)