Vulnerabilities > CVE-2011-2777 - Permissions, Privileges, and Access Controls vulnerability in Tedfelix Acpid2

047910
CVSS 4.4 - MEDIUM
Attack vector
LOCAL
Attack complexity
MEDIUM
Privileges required
NONE
Confidentiality impact
PARTIAL
Integrity impact
PARTIAL
Availability impact
PARTIAL
local
tedfelix
CWE-264
nessus
exploit available

Summary

samples/powerbtn/powerbtn.sh in acpid (aka acpid2) 2.0.16 and earlier uses the pidof program incorrectly, which allows local users to gain privileges by running a program with the name kded4 and a DBUS_SESSION_BUS_ADDRESS environment variable containing commands.

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.

Exploit-Db

descriptionAcpid 1:2.0.10-1ubuntu2 - Privilege Boundary Crossing Vulnerability. CVE-2011-2777. Local exploit for linux platform
idEDB-ID:18228
last seen2016-02-02
modified2011-12-10
published2011-12-10
reporterotr
sourcehttps://www.exploit-db.com/download/18228/
titleAcpid 1:2.0.10-1ubuntu2 - Privilege Boundary Crossing Vulnerability

Nessus

  • NASL familyGentoo Local Security Checks
    NASL idGENTOO_GLSA-201310-20.NASL
    descriptionThe remote host is affected by the vulnerability described in GLSA-201310-20 (acpid2: Privilege escalation) acpid2 does not properly use the pidof program in powerbtn.sh. Impact : A local attacker could gain escalated privileges. Workaround : There is no known workaround at this time.
    last seen2020-06-01
    modified2020-06-02
    plugin id70676
    published2013-10-29
    reporterThis script is Copyright (C) 2013-2018 Tenable Network Security, Inc.
    sourcehttps://www.tenable.com/plugins/nessus/70676
    titleGLSA-201310-20 : acpid2: Privilege escalation
    code
    #
    # (C) Tenable Network Security, Inc.
    #
    # The descriptive text and package checks in this plugin were
    # extracted from Gentoo Linux Security Advisory GLSA 201310-20.
    #
    # The advisory text is Copyright (C) 2001-2015 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(70676);
      script_version("1.5");
      script_cvs_date("Date: 2018/07/12 19:01:15");
    
      script_cve_id("CVE-2011-2777");
      script_bugtraq_id(50993);
      script_xref(name:"GLSA", value:"201310-20");
    
      script_name(english:"GLSA-201310-20 : acpid2: Privilege escalation");
      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-201310-20
    (acpid2: Privilege escalation)
    
        acpid2 does not properly use the pidof program in powerbtn.sh.
      
    Impact :
    
        A local attacker could gain escalated privileges.
      
    Workaround :
    
        There is no known workaround at this time."
      );
      script_set_attribute(
        attribute:"see_also",
        value:"https://security.gentoo.org/glsa/201310-20"
      );
      script_set_attribute(
        attribute:"solution", 
        value:
    "All acpid2 users should upgrade to the latest version:
          # emerge --sync
          # emerge --ask --oneshot --verbose '>=sys-power/acpid-2.0.17'"
      );
      script_set_cvss_base_vector("CVSS2#AV:L/AC:M/Au:N/C:P/I:P/A:P");
      script_set_cvss_temporal_vector("CVSS2#E:POC/RL:OF/RC:C");
      script_set_attribute(attribute:"exploitability_ease", value:"Exploits are available");
      script_set_attribute(attribute:"exploit_available", value:"true");
    
      script_set_attribute(attribute:"plugin_type", value:"local");
      script_set_attribute(attribute:"cpe", value:"p-cpe:/a:gentoo:linux:acpid");
      script_set_attribute(attribute:"cpe", value:"cpe:/o:gentoo:linux");
    
      script_set_attribute(attribute:"patch_publication_date", value:"2013/10/28");
      script_set_attribute(attribute:"plugin_publication_date", value:"2013/10/29");
      script_end_attributes();
    
      script_category(ACT_GATHER_INFO);
      script_copyright(english:"This script is Copyright (C) 2013-2018 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:"sys-power/acpid", unaffected:make_list("ge 2.0.17"), vulnerable:make_list("lt 2.0.17"))) flag++;
    
    if (flag)
    {
      if (report_verbosity > 0) security_warning(port:0, extra:qpkg_report_get());
      else security_warning(0);
      exit(0);
    }
    else
    {
      tested = qpkg_tests_get();
      if (tested) audit(AUDIT_PACKAGE_NOT_AFFECTED, tested);
      else audit(AUDIT_PACKAGE_NOT_INSTALLED, "acpid2");
    }
    
  • NASL familyUbuntu Local Security Checks
    NASL idUBUNTU_USN-1296-1.NASL
    descriptionOliver-Tobias Ripka discovered that an ACPI script incorrectly handled power button events. A local attacker could use this to execute arbitrary code, and possibly escalate privileges. (CVE-2011-2777) Helmut Grohne and Michael Biebl discovered that ACPI scripts were executed with a permissive file mode creation mask (umask). A local attacker could read files and modify directories created by ACPI scripts that did not set a strict umask. (CVE-2011-4578). Note that Tenable Network Security has extracted the preceding description block directly from the Ubuntu 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 id57060
    published2011-12-09
    reporterUbuntu Security Notice (C) 2011-2019 Canonical, Inc. / NASL script (C) 2011-2019 and is owned by Tenable, Inc. or an Affiliate thereof.
    sourcehttps://www.tenable.com/plugins/nessus/57060
    titleUbuntu 10.04 LTS / 10.10 / 11.04 / 11.10 : acpid vulnerabilities (USN-1296-1)
  • NASL familyMandriva Local Security Checks
    NASL idMANDRIVA_MDVSA-2012-137.NASL
    descriptionMultiple vulnerabilities has been discovered and corrected in acpid : Oliver-Tobias Ripka discovered that an ACPI script incorrectly handled power button events. A local attacker could use this to execute arbitrary code, and possibly escalate privileges (CVE-2011-2777). Helmut Grohne and Michael Biebl discovered that ACPI scripts were executed with a permissive file mode creation mask (umask). A local attacker could read files and modify directories created by ACPI scripts that did not set a strict umask (CVE-2011-4578). The updated packages have been patched to correct these issues.
    last seen2020-06-01
    modified2020-06-02
    plugin id61983
    published2012-09-06
    reporterThis script is Copyright (C) 2012-2019 and is owned by Tenable, Inc. or an Affiliate thereof.
    sourcehttps://www.tenable.com/plugins/nessus/61983
    titleMandriva Linux Security Advisory : acpid (MDVSA-2012:137)
  • NASL familyDebian Local Security Checks
    NASL idDEBIAN_DSA-2362.NASL
    descriptionMultiple vulnerabilities were found in the ACPI Daemon, the Advanced Configuration and Power Interface event daemon : - CVE-2011-1159 Vasiliy Kulikov of OpenWall discovered that the socket handling is vulnerable to denial of service. - CVE-2011-2777 Oliver-Tobias Ripka discovered that incorrect process handling in the Debian-specific powerbtn.sh script could lead to local privilege escalation. This issue doesn
    last seen2020-03-17
    modified2012-01-12
    plugin id57502
    published2012-01-12
    reporterThis script is Copyright (C) 2012-2020 and is owned by Tenable, Inc. or an Affiliate thereof.
    sourcehttps://www.tenable.com/plugins/nessus/57502
    titleDebian DSA-2362-1 : acpid - several vulnerabilities

Packetstorm

data sourcehttps://packetstormsecurity.com/files/download/107734/acpid-boundary.txt
idPACKETSTORM:107734
last seen2016-12-05
published2011-12-10
reporterotr
sourcehttps://packetstormsecurity.com/files/107734/Acpid-Privilege-Boundary-Crossing.html
titleAcpid Privilege Boundary Crossing

Seebug

bulletinFamilyexploit
descriptionNo description provided by source.
idSSV:72410
last seen2017-11-19
modified2014-07-01
published2014-07-01
reporterRoot
sourcehttps://www.seebug.org/vuldb/ssvid-72410
titleAcpid 1:2.0.10-1ubuntu2 Privilege Boundary Crossing Vulnerability