Vulnerabilities > CVE-2016-3096 - Link Following vulnerability in multiple products

047910
CVSS 7.8 - HIGH
Attack vector
LOCAL
Attack complexity
LOW
Privileges required
LOW
Confidentiality impact
HIGH
Integrity impact
HIGH
Availability impact
HIGH
local
low complexity
fedoraproject
redhat
CWE-59
nessus

Summary

The create_script function in the lxc_container module in Ansible before 1.9.6-1 and 2.x before 2.0.2.0 allows local users to write to arbitrary files or gain privileges via a symlink attack on (1) /opt/.lxc-attach-script, (2) the archived container in the archive_path directory, or the (3) lxc-attach-script.log or (4) lxc-attach-script.err files in the temporary directory.

Vulnerable Configurations

Part Description Count
OS
Fedoraproject
3
Application
Redhat
85

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 familyFreeBSD Local Security Checks
    NASL idFREEBSD_PKG_253C688906F011E6925F6805CA0B3D42.NASL
    descriptionAnsible developers report : CVE-2016-3096: do not use predictable paths in lxc_container - do not use a predictable filename for the LXC attach script - don
    last seen2020-06-01
    modified2020-06-02
    plugin id90606
    published2016-04-21
    reporterThis script is Copyright (C) 2016-2018 and is owned by Tenable, Inc. or an Affiliate thereof.
    sourcehttps://www.tenable.com/plugins/nessus/90606
    titleFreeBSD : ansible -- use of predictable paths in lxc_container (253c6889-06f0-11e6-925f-6805ca0b3d42)
    code
    #
    # (C) Tenable Network Security, Inc.
    #
    # The descriptive text and package checks in this plugin were  
    # extracted from the FreeBSD VuXML database :
    #
    # Copyright 2003-2018 Jacques Vidrine and contributors
    #
    # Redistribution and use in source (VuXML) and 'compiled' forms (SGML,
    # HTML, PDF, PostScript, RTF and so forth) with or without modification,
    # are permitted provided that the following conditions are met:
    # 1. Redistributions of source code (VuXML) must retain the above
    #    copyright notice, this list of conditions and the following
    #    disclaimer as the first lines of this file unmodified.
    # 2. Redistributions in compiled form (transformed to other DTDs,
    #    published online in any format, converted to PDF, PostScript,
    #    RTF and other formats) must reproduce the above copyright
    #    notice, this list of conditions and the following disclaimer
    #    in the documentation and/or other materials provided with the
    #    distribution.
    # 
    # THIS DOCUMENTATION IS PROVIDED BY THE AUTHOR AND CONTRIBUTORS "AS IS"
    # AND ANY EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO,
    # THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR
    # PURPOSE ARE DISCLAIMED. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE AUTHOR OR CONTRIBUTORS
    # BE LIABLE FOR ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, EXEMPLARY,
    # OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES (INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, PROCUREMENT
    # OF SUBSTITUTE GOODS OR SERVICES; LOSS OF USE, DATA, OR PROFITS; OR
    # BUSINESS INTERRUPTION) HOWEVER CAUSED AND ON ANY THEORY OF LIABILITY,
    # WHETHER IN CONTRACT, STRICT LIABILITY, OR TORT (INCLUDING NEGLIGENCE
    # OR OTHERWISE) ARISING IN ANY WAY OUT OF THE USE OF THIS DOCUMENTATION,
    # EVEN IF ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGE.
    #
    
    include("compat.inc");
    
    if (description)
    {
      script_id(90606);
      script_version("2.4");
      script_cvs_date("Date: 2018/11/10 11:49:45");
    
      script_cve_id("CVE-2016-3096");
    
      script_name(english:"FreeBSD : ansible -- use of predictable paths in lxc_container (253c6889-06f0-11e6-925f-6805ca0b3d42)");
      script_summary(english:"Checks for updated packages in pkg_info output");
    
      script_set_attribute(
        attribute:"synopsis", 
        value:
    "The remote FreeBSD host is missing one or more security-related
    updates."
      );
      script_set_attribute(
        attribute:"description", 
        value:
    "Ansible developers report :
    
    CVE-2016-3096: do not use predictable paths in lxc_container
    
    - do not use a predictable filename for the LXC attach script
    
    - don't use predictable filenames for LXC attach script logging
    
    - don't set a predictable archive_path
    
    this should prevent symlink attacks which could result in
    
    - data corruption
    
    - data leakage
    
    - privilege escalation"
      );
      # https://github.com/ansible/ansible-modules-extras/pull/1941/commits/8c6fe646ee79f5e55361b885b7efed5bec72d4a4
      script_set_attribute(
        attribute:"see_also",
        value:"http://www.nessus.org/u?489f6a89"
      );
      script_set_attribute(
        attribute:"see_also",
        value:"https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=1322925"
      );
      # https://vuxml.freebsd.org/freebsd/253c6889-06f0-11e6-925f-6805ca0b3d42.html
      script_set_attribute(
        attribute:"see_also",
        value:"http://www.nessus.org/u?d5eda4a3"
      );
      script_set_attribute(attribute:"solution", value:"Update the affected packages.");
      script_set_cvss_base_vector("CVSS2#AV:L/AC:L/Au:N/C:C/I:C/A:C");
      script_set_cvss3_base_vector("CVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H");
    
      script_set_attribute(attribute:"plugin_type", value:"local");
      script_set_attribute(attribute:"cpe", value:"p-cpe:/a:freebsd:freebsd:ansible");
      script_set_attribute(attribute:"cpe", value:"p-cpe:/a:freebsd:freebsd:ansible1");
      script_set_attribute(attribute:"cpe", value:"cpe:/o:freebsd:freebsd");
    
      script_set_attribute(attribute:"vuln_publication_date", value:"2016/04/02");
      script_set_attribute(attribute:"patch_publication_date", value:"2016/04/20");
      script_set_attribute(attribute:"plugin_publication_date", value:"2016/04/21");
      script_end_attributes();
    
      script_category(ACT_GATHER_INFO);
      script_copyright(english:"This script is Copyright (C) 2016-2018 and is owned by Tenable, Inc. or an Affiliate thereof.");
      script_family(english:"FreeBSD Local Security Checks");
    
      script_dependencies("ssh_get_info.nasl");
      script_require_keys("Host/local_checks_enabled", "Host/FreeBSD/release", "Host/FreeBSD/pkg_info");
    
      exit(0);
    }
    
    
    include("audit.inc");
    include("freebsd_package.inc");
    
    
    if (!get_kb_item("Host/local_checks_enabled")) audit(AUDIT_LOCAL_CHECKS_NOT_ENABLED);
    if (!get_kb_item("Host/FreeBSD/release")) audit(AUDIT_OS_NOT, "FreeBSD");
    if (!get_kb_item("Host/FreeBSD/pkg_info")) audit(AUDIT_PACKAGE_LIST_MISSING);
    
    
    flag = 0;
    
    if (pkg_test(save_report:TRUE, pkg:"ansible>=2.0.0.0<2.0.2.0")) flag++;
    if (pkg_test(save_report:TRUE, pkg:"ansible1<1.9.6")) flag++;
    
    if (flag)
    {
      if (report_verbosity > 0) security_hole(port:0, extra:pkg_report_get());
      else security_hole(0);
      exit(0);
    }
    else audit(AUDIT_HOST_NOT, "affected");
    
  • NASL familyFedora Local Security Checks
    NASL idFEDORA_2016-679C4DDD3C.NASL
    descriptionUpdate to 2.0.2.0. https://github.com/ansible/ansible/blob/stable-2.0/CHANGELOG.md 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 seen2020-06-05
    modified2016-05-09
    plugin id90958
    published2016-05-09
    reporterThis script is Copyright (C) 2016-2020 Tenable Network Security, Inc.
    sourcehttps://www.tenable.com/plugins/nessus/90958
    titleFedora 24 : ansible-2.0.2.0-1.fc24 (2016-679c4ddd3c)
    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 2016-679c4ddd3c.
    #
    
    include("compat.inc");
    
    if (description)
    {
      script_id(90958);
      script_version("2.4");
      script_set_attribute(attribute:"plugin_modification_date", value:"2020/06/04");
    
      script_cve_id("CVE-2016-3096");
      script_xref(name:"FEDORA", value:"2016-679c4ddd3c");
    
      script_name(english:"Fedora 24 : ansible-2.0.2.0-1.fc24 (2016-679c4ddd3c)");
      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:
    "Update to 2.0.2.0.
    https://github.com/ansible/ansible/blob/stable-2.0/CHANGELOG.md
    
    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=1322925"
      );
      script_set_attribute(
        attribute:"see_also",
        value:"https://github.com/ansible/ansible/blob/stable-2.0/CHANGELOG.md"
      );
      # https://lists.fedoraproject.org/pipermail/package-announce/2016-May/184175.html
      script_set_attribute(
        attribute:"see_also",
        value:"http://www.nessus.org/u?a06a2fbf"
      );
      script_set_attribute(
        attribute:"solution", 
        value:"Update the affected ansible package."
      );
      script_set_cvss_base_vector("CVSS2#AV:L/AC:L/Au:N/C:C/I:C/A:C");
      script_set_cvss3_base_vector("CVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H");
    
      script_set_attribute(attribute:"plugin_type", value:"local");
      script_set_attribute(attribute:"cpe", value:"p-cpe:/a:fedoraproject:fedora:ansible");
      script_set_attribute(attribute:"cpe", value:"cpe:/o:fedoraproject:fedora:24");
    
      script_set_attribute(attribute:"patch_publication_date", value:"2016/05/07");
      script_set_attribute(attribute:"plugin_publication_date", value:"2016/05/09");
      script_end_attributes();
    
      script_category(ACT_GATHER_INFO);
      script_copyright(english:"This script is Copyright (C) 2016-2020 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:"^24([^0-9]|$)", string:os_ver)) audit(AUDIT_OS_NOT, "Fedora 24.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:"FC24", reference:"ansible-2.0.2.0-1.fc24")) 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, "ansible");
    }
    
  • NASL familyGentoo Local Security Checks
    NASL idGENTOO_GLSA-201607-14.NASL
    descriptionThe remote host is affected by the vulnerability described in GLSA-201607-14 (Ansible: Privilege escalation) The create_script function in the lxc_container module of Ansible uses predictable temporary file names, making it vulnerable to a symlink attack. Impact : Local attackers could write arbitrary files or gain escalated privileges within the container. Workaround : There is no known workaround at this time.
    last seen2020-06-01
    modified2020-06-02
    plugin id92484
    published2016-07-21
    reporterThis script is Copyright (C) 2016 Tenable Network Security, Inc.
    sourcehttps://www.tenable.com/plugins/nessus/92484
    titleGLSA-201607-14 : Ansible: 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 201607-14.
    #
    # 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(92484);
      script_version("$Revision: 2.2 $");
      script_cvs_date("$Date: 2016/10/10 14:25:16 $");
    
      script_cve_id("CVE-2016-3096");
      script_xref(name:"GLSA", value:"201607-14");
    
      script_name(english:"GLSA-201607-14 : Ansible: 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-201607-14
    (Ansible: Privilege escalation)
    
        The create_script function in the lxc_container module of Ansible uses
          predictable temporary file names, making it vulnerable to a symlink
          attack.
      
    Impact :
    
        Local attackers could write arbitrary files or gain escalated privileges
          within the container.
      
    Workaround :
    
        There is no known workaround at this time."
      );
      script_set_attribute(
        attribute:"see_also",
        value:"https://security.gentoo.org/glsa/201607-14"
      );
      script_set_attribute(
        attribute:"solution", 
        value:
    "All Ansible 1.9.x users should upgrade to the latest version:
          # emerge --sync
          # emerge --ask --oneshot --verbose '>=app-admin/ansible-1.9.6'
        All Ansible 2.0.2.x users should upgrade to the latest version:
          # emerge --sync
          # emerge --ask --oneshot --verbose '>=app-admin/ansible-2.0.2.0-r1'"
      );
      script_set_cvss_base_vector("CVSS2#AV:L/AC:L/Au:N/C:C/I:C/A:C");
      script_set_cvss3_base_vector("CVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H");
    
      script_set_attribute(attribute:"plugin_type", value:"local");
      script_set_attribute(attribute:"cpe", value:"p-cpe:/a:gentoo:linux:ansible");
      script_set_attribute(attribute:"cpe", value:"cpe:/o:gentoo:linux");
    
      script_set_attribute(attribute:"patch_publication_date", value:"2016/07/20");
      script_set_attribute(attribute:"plugin_publication_date", value:"2016/07/21");
      script_end_attributes();
    
      script_category(ACT_GATHER_INFO);
      script_copyright(english:"This script is Copyright (C) 2016 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:"app-admin/ansible", unaffected:make_list("ge 2.0.2.0-r1", "rge 1.9.6"), vulnerable:make_list("lt 2.0.2.0-r1"))) 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, "Ansible");
    }
    
  • NASL familyFedora Local Security Checks
    NASL idFEDORA_2016-65519440F5.NASL
    descriptionUpdate to 1.9.6. Fixes bug #1327744 as well as CVE-2016-3096 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 seen2020-06-05
    modified2016-04-27
    plugin id90732
    published2016-04-27
    reporterThis script is Copyright (C) 2016-2020 Tenable Network Security, Inc.
    sourcehttps://www.tenable.com/plugins/nessus/90732
    titleFedora 23 : ansible1.9-1.9.6-1.fc23 (2016-65519440f5)
  • NASL familyFedora Local Security Checks
    NASL idFEDORA_2016-CD3CF8E7D0.NASL
    descriptionUpdate to 2.0.2.0. https://github.com/ansible/ansible/blob/stable-2.0/CHANGELOG.md 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 seen2020-06-05
    modified2016-05-02
    plugin id90817
    published2016-05-02
    reporterThis script is Copyright (C) 2016-2020 Tenable Network Security, Inc.
    sourcehttps://www.tenable.com/plugins/nessus/90817
    titleFedora 23 : ansible-2.0.2.0-1.fc23 (2016-cd3cf8e7d0)
  • NASL familyFedora Local Security Checks
    NASL idFEDORA_2016-AB154C56DD.NASL
    descriptionUpdate to 2.0.2.0. https://github.com/ansible/ansible/blob/stable-2.0/CHANGELOG.md 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 seen2020-06-05
    modified2016-05-02
    plugin id90816
    published2016-05-02
    reporterThis script is Copyright (C) 2016-2020 Tenable Network Security, Inc.
    sourcehttps://www.tenable.com/plugins/nessus/90816
    titleFedora 22 : ansible-2.0.2.0-1.fc22 (2016-ab154c56dd)
  • NASL familyFedora Local Security Checks
    NASL idFEDORA_2016-28FF51A3F5.NASL
    descriptionUpdate to 1.9.6. Fixes bug #1327744 as well as CVE-2016-3096 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 seen2020-06-05
    modified2016-04-27
    plugin id90728
    published2016-04-27
    reporterThis script is Copyright (C) 2016-2020 Tenable Network Security, Inc.
    sourcehttps://www.tenable.com/plugins/nessus/90728
    titleFedora 22 : ansible1.9-1.9.6-1.fc22 (2016-28ff51a3f5)