Vulnerabilities > CVE-2015-1338 - Link Following vulnerability in multiple products

047910
CVSS 7.2 - HIGH
Attack vector
LOCAL
Attack complexity
LOW
Privileges required
NONE
Confidentiality impact
COMPLETE
Integrity impact
COMPLETE
Availability impact
COMPLETE
local
low complexity
apport-project
canonical
CWE-59
nessus
exploit available

Summary

kernel_crashdump in Apport before 2.19 allows local users to cause a denial of service (disk consumption) or possibly gain privileges via a (1) symlink or (2) hard link attack on /var/crash/vmcore.log.

Vulnerable Configurations

Part Description Count
Application
Apport_Project
99
OS
Canonical
3

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.

Exploit-Db

descriptionUbuntu Apport - Local Privilege Escalation. CVE-2015-1338. Local exploit for linux platform
fileexploits/linux/local/38353.txt
idEDB-ID:38353
last seen2016-02-04
modified2015-09-29
platformlinux
port
published2015-09-29
reporterhalfdog
sourcehttps://www.exploit-db.com/download/38353/
titleUbuntu Apport - Local Privilege Escalation
typelocal

Nessus

  • NASL familySuSE Local Security Checks
    NASL idSUSE_SU-2017-1938-1.NASL
    descriptionThis update for apport fixes the following issues: Security issue fixed : - CVE-2015-1338: Insecurely created crash dumps could lead to a DoS or privilege escalation through malicious symlinks. (bsc#947731) Note that Tenable Network Security has extracted the preceding description block directly from the SUSE 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 id101941
    published2017-07-25
    reporterThis script is Copyright (C) 2017-2019 and is owned by Tenable, Inc. or an Affiliate thereof.
    sourcehttps://www.tenable.com/plugins/nessus/101941
    titleSUSE SLES11 Security Update : apport (SUSE-SU-2017:1938-1)
    code
    #
    # (C) Tenable Network Security, Inc.
    #
    # The descriptive text and package checks in this plugin were
    # extracted from SUSE update advisory SUSE-SU-2017:1938-1.
    # The text itself is copyright (C) SUSE.
    #
    
    include("compat.inc");
    
    if (description)
    {
      script_id(101941);
      script_version("3.5");
      script_cvs_date("Date: 2019/09/11 11:22:15");
    
      script_cve_id("CVE-2015-1338");
    
      script_name(english:"SUSE SLES11 Security Update : apport (SUSE-SU-2017:1938-1)");
      script_summary(english:"Checks rpm output for the updated packages.");
    
      script_set_attribute(
        attribute:"synopsis", 
        value:"The remote SUSE host is missing one or more security updates."
      );
      script_set_attribute(
        attribute:"description", 
        value:
    "This update for apport fixes the following issues: Security issue
    fixed :
    
      - CVE-2015-1338: Insecurely created crash dumps could lead
        to a DoS or privilege escalation through malicious
        symlinks. (bsc#947731)
    
    Note that Tenable Network Security has extracted the preceding
    description block directly from the SUSE 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.suse.com/show_bug.cgi?id=947731"
      );
      script_set_attribute(
        attribute:"see_also",
        value:"https://www.suse.com/security/cve/CVE-2015-1338/"
      );
      # https://www.suse.com/support/update/announcement/2017/suse-su-20171938-1/
      script_set_attribute(
        attribute:"see_also",
        value:"http://www.nessus.org/u?bef290d3"
      );
      script_set_attribute(
        attribute:"solution", 
        value:
    "To install this SUSE Security Update use YaST online_update.
    Alternatively you can run the command listed for your product :
    
    SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 11-SP4:zypper in -t patch
    slessp4-apport-13220=1
    
    To bring your system up-to-date, use 'zypper patch'."
      );
      script_set_cvss_base_vector("CVSS2#AV:L/AC:L/Au:N/C:C/I:C/A:C");
      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:novell:suse_linux:apport");
      script_set_attribute(attribute:"cpe", value:"p-cpe:/a:novell:suse_linux:apport-crashdb-sle");
      script_set_attribute(attribute:"cpe", value:"p-cpe:/a:novell:suse_linux:apport-gtk");
      script_set_attribute(attribute:"cpe", value:"cpe:/o:novell:suse_linux:11");
    
      script_set_attribute(attribute:"vuln_publication_date", value:"2015/10/01");
      script_set_attribute(attribute:"patch_publication_date", value:"2017/07/24");
      script_set_attribute(attribute:"plugin_publication_date", value:"2017/07/25");
      script_set_attribute(attribute:"generated_plugin", value:"current");
      script_end_attributes();
    
      script_category(ACT_GATHER_INFO);
      script_copyright(english:"This script is Copyright (C) 2017-2019 and is owned by Tenable, Inc. or an Affiliate thereof.");
      script_family(english:"SuSE Local Security Checks");
    
      script_dependencies("ssh_get_info.nasl");
      script_require_keys("Host/local_checks_enabled", "Host/cpu", "Host/SuSE/release", "Host/SuSE/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/SuSE/release");
    if (isnull(release) || release !~ "^(SLED|SLES)") audit(AUDIT_OS_NOT, "SUSE");
    os_ver = pregmatch(pattern: "^(SLE(S|D)\d+)", string:release);
    if (isnull(os_ver)) audit(AUDIT_UNKNOWN_APP_VER, "SUSE");
    os_ver = os_ver[1];
    if (! preg(pattern:"^(SLES11)$", string:os_ver)) audit(AUDIT_OS_NOT, "SUSE SLES11", "SUSE " + os_ver);
    
    if (!get_kb_item("Host/SuSE/rpm-list")) audit(AUDIT_PACKAGE_LIST_MISSING);
    
    cpu = get_kb_item("Host/cpu");
    if (isnull(cpu)) audit(AUDIT_UNKNOWN_ARCH);
    if (cpu !~ "^i[3-6]86$" && "x86_64" >!< cpu && "s390x" >!< cpu) audit(AUDIT_LOCAL_CHECKS_NOT_IMPLEMENTED, "SUSE " + os_ver, cpu);
    
    sp = get_kb_item("Host/SuSE/patchlevel");
    if (isnull(sp)) sp = "0";
    if (os_ver == "SLES11" && (! preg(pattern:"^(4)$", string:sp))) audit(AUDIT_OS_NOT, "SLES11 SP4", os_ver + " SP" + sp);
    
    
    flag = 0;
    if (rpm_check(release:"SLES11", sp:"4", reference:"apport-0.114-12.8.3.1")) flag++;
    if (rpm_check(release:"SLES11", sp:"4", reference:"apport-crashdb-sle-0.114-0.8.3.1")) flag++;
    if (rpm_check(release:"SLES11", sp:"4", reference:"apport-gtk-0.114-12.8.3.1")) 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, "apport");
    }
    
  • NASL familyUbuntu Local Security Checks
    NASL idUBUNTU_USN-2744-1.NASL
    descriptionHalfdog discovered that Apport incorrectly handled kernel crash dump files. A local attacker could use this issue to cause a denial of service, or possibly elevate privileges. The default symlink protections for affected releases should reduce the vulnerability to a denial of service. 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 id86145
    published2015-09-25
    reporterUbuntu Security Notice (C) 2015-2019 Canonical, Inc. / NASL script (C) 2015-2019 and is owned by Tenable, Inc. or an Affiliate thereof.
    sourcehttps://www.tenable.com/plugins/nessus/86145
    titleUbuntu 12.04 LTS / 14.04 LTS / 15.04 : apport vulnerability (USN-2744-1)
    code
    #
    # (C) Tenable Network Security, Inc.
    #
    # The descriptive text and package checks in this plugin were
    # extracted from Ubuntu Security Notice USN-2744-1. The text 
    # itself is copyright (C) Canonical, Inc. See 
    # <http://www.ubuntu.com/usn/>. Ubuntu(R) is a registered 
    # trademark of Canonical, Inc.
    #
    
    include("compat.inc");
    
    if (description)
    {
      script_id(86145);
      script_version("2.7");
      script_cvs_date("Date: 2019/09/18 12:31:44");
    
      script_cve_id("CVE-2015-1338");
      script_xref(name:"USN", value:"2744-1");
    
      script_name(english:"Ubuntu 12.04 LTS / 14.04 LTS / 15.04 : apport vulnerability (USN-2744-1)");
      script_summary(english:"Checks dpkg output for updated package.");
    
      script_set_attribute(
        attribute:"synopsis", 
        value:"The remote Ubuntu host is missing a security-related patch."
      );
      script_set_attribute(
        attribute:"description", 
        value:
    "Halfdog discovered that Apport incorrectly handled kernel crash dump
    files. A local attacker could use this issue to cause a denial of
    service, or possibly elevate privileges. The default symlink
    protections for affected releases should reduce the vulnerability to a
    denial of service.
    
    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."
      );
      script_set_attribute(
        attribute:"see_also",
        value:"https://usn.ubuntu.com/2744-1/"
      );
      script_set_attribute(
        attribute:"solution", 
        value:"Update the affected apport package."
      );
      script_set_cvss_base_vector("CVSS2#AV:L/AC:L/Au:N/C:C/I:C/A:C");
      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:canonical:ubuntu_linux:apport");
      script_set_attribute(attribute:"cpe", value:"cpe:/o:canonical:ubuntu_linux:12.04:-:lts");
      script_set_attribute(attribute:"cpe", value:"cpe:/o:canonical:ubuntu_linux:14.04");
      script_set_attribute(attribute:"cpe", value:"cpe:/o:canonical:ubuntu_linux:15.04");
    
      script_set_attribute(attribute:"vuln_publication_date", value:"2015/10/01");
      script_set_attribute(attribute:"patch_publication_date", value:"2015/09/24");
      script_set_attribute(attribute:"plugin_publication_date", value:"2015/09/25");
      script_set_attribute(attribute:"generated_plugin", value:"current");
      script_end_attributes();
    
      script_category(ACT_GATHER_INFO);
      script_copyright(english:"Ubuntu Security Notice (C) 2015-2019 Canonical, Inc. / NASL script (C) 2015-2019 and is owned by Tenable, Inc. or an Affiliate thereof.");
      script_family(english:"Ubuntu Local Security Checks");
    
      script_dependencies("ssh_get_info.nasl");
      script_require_keys("Host/cpu", "Host/Ubuntu", "Host/Ubuntu/release", "Host/Debian/dpkg-l");
    
      exit(0);
    }
    
    
    include("audit.inc");
    include("ubuntu.inc");
    include("misc_func.inc");
    
    if ( ! get_kb_item("Host/local_checks_enabled") ) audit(AUDIT_LOCAL_CHECKS_NOT_ENABLED);
    release = get_kb_item("Host/Ubuntu/release");
    if ( isnull(release) ) audit(AUDIT_OS_NOT, "Ubuntu");
    release = chomp(release);
    if (! preg(pattern:"^(12\.04|14\.04|15\.04)$", string:release)) audit(AUDIT_OS_NOT, "Ubuntu 12.04 / 14.04 / 15.04", "Ubuntu " + release);
    if ( ! get_kb_item("Host/Debian/dpkg-l") ) 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, "Ubuntu", cpu);
    
    flag = 0;
    
    if (ubuntu_check(osver:"12.04", pkgname:"apport", pkgver:"2.0.1-0ubuntu17.10")) flag++;
    if (ubuntu_check(osver:"14.04", pkgname:"apport", pkgver:"2.14.1-0ubuntu3.15")) flag++;
    if (ubuntu_check(osver:"15.04", pkgname:"apport", pkgver:"2.17.2-0ubuntu1.5")) flag++;
    
    if (flag)
    {
      security_report_v4(
        port       : 0,
        severity   : SECURITY_HOLE,
        extra      : ubuntu_report_get()
      );
      exit(0);
    }
    else
    {
      tested = ubuntu_pkg_tests_get();
      if (tested) audit(AUDIT_PACKAGE_NOT_AFFECTED, tested);
      else audit(AUDIT_PACKAGE_NOT_INSTALLED, "apport");
    }