Vulnerabilities > CVE-2016-7408 - Improper Access Control vulnerability in Dropbear SSH Project Dropbear SSH

047910
CVSS 6.5 - MEDIUM
Attack vector
NETWORK
Attack complexity
LOW
Privileges required
SINGLE
Confidentiality impact
PARTIAL
Integrity impact
PARTIAL
Availability impact
PARTIAL
network
low complexity
dropbear-ssh-project
CWE-284
nessus

Summary

The dbclient in Dropbear SSH before 2016.74 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via a crafted (1) -m or (2) -c argument.

Vulnerable Configurations

Part Description Count
Application
Dropbear_Ssh_Project
53

Common Weakness Enumeration (CWE)

Common Attack Pattern Enumeration and Classification (CAPEC)

  • Embedding Scripts within Scripts
    An attack of this type exploits a programs' vulnerabilities that are brought on by allowing remote hosts to execute scripts. The attacker leverages this capability to execute scripts to execute his/her own script by embedding it within other scripts that the target software is likely to execute. The attacker must have the ability to inject script into script that is likely to be executed. If this is done, then the attacker can potentially launch a variety of probes and attacks against the web server's local environment, in many cases the so-called DMZ, back end resources the web server can communicate with, and other hosts. With the proliferation of intermediaries, such as Web App Firewalls, network devices, and even printers having JVMs and Web servers, there are many locales where an attacker can inject malicious scripts. Since this attack pattern defines scripts within scripts, there are likely privileges to execute said attack on the host. Of course, these attacks are not solely limited to the server side, client side scripts like Ajax and client side JavaScript can contain malicious scripts as well. In general all that is required is for there to be sufficient privileges to execute a script, but not protected against writing.
  • Signature Spoofing by Key Theft
    An attacker obtains an authoritative or reputable signer's private signature key by theft and then uses this key to forge signatures from the original signer to mislead a victim into performing actions that benefit the attacker.

Nessus

  • NASL familyFreeBSD Local Security Checks
    NASL idFREEBSD_PKG_BC19DCCA7B1311E6B99E589CFC0654E1.NASL
    descriptionMatt Johnston reports : If specific usernames including
    last seen2020-06-01
    modified2020-06-02
    plugin id93552
    published2016-09-16
    reporterThis script is Copyright (C) 2016-2018 and is owned by Tenable, Inc. or an Affiliate thereof.
    sourcehttps://www.tenable.com/plugins/nessus/93552
    titleFreeBSD : dropbear -- multiple vulnerabilities (bc19dcca-7b13-11e6-b99e-589cfc0654e1)
    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(93552);
      script_version("2.4");
      script_cvs_date("Date: 2018/11/23 12:49:57");
    
      script_cve_id("CVE-2016-7406", "CVE-2016-7407", "CVE-2016-7408", "CVE-2016-7409");
    
      script_name(english:"FreeBSD : dropbear -- multiple vulnerabilities (bc19dcca-7b13-11e6-b99e-589cfc0654e1)");
      script_summary(english:"Checks for updated package in pkg_info output");
    
      script_set_attribute(
        attribute:"synopsis", 
        value:"The remote FreeBSD host is missing a security-related update."
      );
      script_set_attribute(
        attribute:"description", 
        value:
    "Matt Johnston reports :
    
    If specific usernames including '%' symbols can be created on a system
    (validated by getpwnam()) then an attacker could run arbitrary code as
    root when connecting to Dropbear server.
    
    A dbclient user who can control username or host arguments could
    potentially run arbitrary code as the dbclient user. This could be a
    problem if scripts or webpages pass untrusted input to the dbclient
    program.
    
    dropbearconvert import of OpenSSH keys could run arbitrary code as the
    local dropbearconvert user when parsing malicious key files.
    
    dbclient could run arbitrary code as the local dbclient user if
    particular -m or -c arguments are provided. This could be an issue
    where dbclient is used in scripts.
    
    dbclient or dropbear server could expose process memory to the running
    user if compiled with DEBUG_TRACE and running with -v"
      );
      # http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2016/09/15/2
      script_set_attribute(
        attribute:"see_also",
        value:"https://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2016/09/15/2"
      );
      # https://vuxml.freebsd.org/freebsd/bc19dcca-7b13-11e6-b99e-589cfc0654e1.html
      script_set_attribute(
        attribute:"see_also",
        value:"http://www.nessus.org/u?002ecf86"
      );
      script_set_attribute(attribute:"solution", value:"Update the affected package.");
      script_set_cvss_base_vector("CVSS2#AV:N/AC:L/Au:N/C:C/I:C/A:C");
      script_set_cvss3_base_vector("CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/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:dropbear");
      script_set_attribute(attribute:"cpe", value:"cpe:/o:freebsd:freebsd");
    
      script_set_attribute(attribute:"vuln_publication_date", value:"2016/07/12");
      script_set_attribute(attribute:"patch_publication_date", value:"2016/09/15");
      script_set_attribute(attribute:"plugin_publication_date", value:"2016/09/16");
      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:"dropbear<2016.74")) 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 familyMisc.
    NASL idDROPBEAR_SSH_74.NASL
    descriptionAccording to its self-reported version in its banner, Dropbear SSH running on the remote host is prior to 2016.74. It is, therefore, affected by the following vulnerabilities : - A format string flaw exists due to improper handling of string format specifiers (e.g., %s and %x) in usernames and host arguments. An unauthenticated, remote attacker can exploit this to execute arbitrary code with root privileges. (CVE-2016-7406) - A flaw exists in dropbearconvert due to improper handling of specially crafted OpenSSH key files. An unauthenticated, remote attacker can exploit this to execute arbitrary code. (CVE-2016-7407) - A flaw exists in dbclient when handling the -m or -c arguments in scripts. An unauthenticated, remote attacker can exploit this, via a specially crafted script, to execute arbitrary code. (CVE-2016-7408) - A flaw exists in dbclient or dropbear server if they are compiled with the DEBUG_TRACE option and then run using the -v switch. A local attacker can exploit this to disclose process memory. (CVE-2016-7409)
    last seen2020-06-01
    modified2020-06-02
    plugin id93650
    published2016-09-22
    reporterThis script is Copyright (C) 2016-2019 and is owned by Tenable, Inc. or an Affiliate thereof.
    sourcehttps://www.tenable.com/plugins/nessus/93650
    titleDropbear SSH Server < 2016.72 Multiple Vulnerabilities
    code
    #
    # (C) Tenable Network Security, Inc.
    #
    
    include("compat.inc");
    
    if (description)
    {
      script_id(93650);
      script_version("1.5");
      script_cvs_date("Date: 2019/11/14");
    
      script_cve_id(
        "CVE-2016-7406",
        "CVE-2016-7407",
        "CVE-2016-7408",
        "CVE-2016-7409"
      );
      script_bugtraq_id(
        92970,
        92972,
        92973,
        92974
      );
    
      script_name(english:"Dropbear SSH Server < 2016.72 Multiple Vulnerabilities");
      script_summary(english:"Checks the remote SSH server type and version.");
    
      script_set_attribute(attribute:"synopsis", value:
    "The SSH service running on the remote host is affected by multiple
    vulnerabilities.");
      script_set_attribute(attribute:"description", value:
    "According to its self-reported version in its banner, Dropbear SSH
    running on the remote host is prior to 2016.74. It is, therefore,
    affected by the following vulnerabilities :
    
      - A format string flaw exists due to improper handling of
        string format specifiers (e.g., %s and %x) in usernames
        and host arguments. An unauthenticated, remote attacker
        can exploit this to execute arbitrary code with root
        privileges. (CVE-2016-7406)
    
      - A flaw exists in dropbearconvert due to improper
        handling of specially crafted OpenSSH key files. An
        unauthenticated, remote attacker can exploit this to
        execute arbitrary code. (CVE-2016-7407)
    
      - A flaw exists in dbclient when handling the -m or -c
        arguments in scripts. An unauthenticated, remote attacker
        can exploit this, via a specially crafted script, to
        execute arbitrary code. (CVE-2016-7408)
    
      - A flaw exists in dbclient or dropbear server if they are
        compiled with the DEBUG_TRACE option and then run using
        the -v switch. A local attacker can exploit this to
        disclose process memory. (CVE-2016-7409)");
      script_set_attribute(attribute:"see_also", value:"https://matt.ucc.asn.au/dropbear/CHANGES");
      script_set_attribute(attribute:"solution", value:
    "Upgrade to Dropbear SSH version 2016.74 or later.");
      script_set_cvss_base_vector("CVSS2#AV:N/AC:L/Au:N/C:C/I:C/A:C");
      script_set_cvss_temporal_vector("CVSS2#E:U/RL:OF/RC:C");
      script_set_cvss3_base_vector("CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H");
      script_set_cvss3_temporal_vector("CVSS:3.0/E:U/RL:O/RC:C");
      script_set_attribute(attribute:"cvss_score_source", value:"CVE-2016-7407");
    
      script_set_attribute(attribute:"exploitability_ease", value:"No known exploits are available");
      script_set_attribute(attribute:"exploit_available", value:"false");
    
      script_set_attribute(attribute:"vuln_publication_date", value:"2016/07/21");
      script_set_attribute(attribute:"patch_publication_date", value:"2016/07/21");
      script_set_attribute(attribute:"plugin_publication_date", value:"2016/09/22");
    
      script_set_attribute(attribute:"plugin_type", value:"remote");
      script_set_attribute(attribute:"cpe", value:"cpe:/a:matt_johnston:dropbear_ssh_server");
      script_end_attributes();
    
      script_category(ACT_GATHER_INFO);
      script_family(english:"Misc.");
    
      script_copyright(english:"This script is Copyright (C) 2016-2019 and is owned by Tenable, Inc. or an Affiliate thereof.");
    
      script_dependencies("ssh_detect.nasl");
      script_require_ports("Services/ssh", 22);
    
      exit(0);
    }
    
    include("audit.inc");
    include("backport.inc");
    include("global_settings.inc");
    include("misc_func.inc");
    
    app         = "Dropbear SSH";
    port        = get_service(svc:"ssh", exit_on_fail:TRUE);
    orig_banner = get_kb_item_or_exit("SSH/banner/" + port);
    banner      = get_backport_banner(banner:orig_banner);
    
    if ("dropbear" >!< banner) audit(AUDIT_NOT_DETECT, app, port);
    if (backported) audit(AUDIT_BACKPORT_SERVICE, port, app);
    
    item = eregmatch(pattern:"dropbear_([0-9]+\.[0-9]+(\.[0-9]+)?)($|[^0-9])", string:banner);
    if (!item) audit(AUDIT_SERVICE_VER_FAIL, app, port);
    version = item[1];
    
    #SSH version : SSH-2.0-dropbear_0.53.1
    #SSH version : SSH-2.0-dropbear_2011.54
    if (
      # Early
      version =~ "^0\."
      ||
      # 2000-2015
      version =~ "^20(0\d|1[1-5])\."
      ||
      # 2016.0-2016.73
      version =~ "^2016\.([0-6]\d|7[0-3])"
    )
    {
      report_items = make_array(
        "Version source", orig_banner,
        "Installed version", version,
        "Fixed version", "2016.74"
      );
      order = make_list("Version source", "Installed version", "Fixed version");
      report = report_items_str(report_items:report_items, ordered_fields:order);
      security_report_v4(severity:SECURITY_HOLE, port:port, extra:report);
    }
    else audit(AUDIT_LISTEN_NOT_VULN, app, port, version);
    
  • NASL familyGentoo Local Security Checks
    NASL idGENTOO_GLSA-201702-23.NASL
    descriptionThe remote host is affected by the vulnerability described in GLSA-201702-23 (Dropbear: Multiple vulnerabilities) Multiple vulnerabilities have been discovered in Dropbear. Please review the CVE identifiers referenced below for details. Impact : A remote attacker could possibly execute arbitrary code with root privileges if usernames containing special characters can be created on a system. Also, a dbclient user who can control username or host arguments could potentially run arbitrary code with the privileges of the process. In addition, a remote attacker could entice a user to process a specially crafted SSH key using dropbearconvert, possibly resulting in execution of arbitrary code with the privileges of the process or a Denial of Service condition. Workaround : There is no known workaround at this time.
    last seen2020-06-01
    modified2020-06-02
    plugin id97266
    published2017-02-21
    reporterThis script is Copyright (C) 2017 Tenable Network Security, Inc.
    sourcehttps://www.tenable.com/plugins/nessus/97266
    titleGLSA-201702-23 : Dropbear: Multiple vulnerabilities
    code
    #
    # (C) Tenable Network Security, Inc.
    #
    # The descriptive text and package checks in this plugin were
    # extracted from Gentoo Linux Security Advisory GLSA 201702-23.
    #
    # The advisory text is Copyright (C) 2001-2017 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(97266);
      script_version("$Revision: 3.2 $");
      script_cvs_date("$Date: 2017/03/06 14:38:26 $");
    
      script_cve_id("CVE-2016-7406", "CVE-2016-7407", "CVE-2016-7408", "CVE-2016-7409");
      script_xref(name:"GLSA", value:"201702-23");
    
      script_name(english:"GLSA-201702-23 : Dropbear: Multiple vulnerabilities");
      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-201702-23
    (Dropbear: Multiple vulnerabilities)
    
        Multiple vulnerabilities have been discovered in Dropbear. Please review
          the CVE identifiers referenced below for details.
      
    Impact :
    
        A remote attacker could possibly execute arbitrary code with root
          privileges if usernames containing special characters can be created on a
          system. Also, a dbclient user who can control username or host arguments
          could potentially run arbitrary code with the privileges of the process.
        In addition, a remote attacker could entice a user to process a
          specially crafted SSH key using dropbearconvert, possibly resulting in
          execution of arbitrary code with the privileges of the process or a
          Denial of Service condition.
      
    Workaround :
    
        There is no known workaround at this time."
      );
      script_set_attribute(
        attribute:"see_also",
        value:"https://security.gentoo.org/glsa/201702-23"
      );
      script_set_attribute(
        attribute:"solution", 
        value:
    "All Dropbear users should upgrade to the latest version:
          # emerge --sync
          # emerge --ask --oneshot --verbose '>=net-misc/dropbear-2016.74'"
      );
      script_set_cvss_base_vector("CVSS2#AV:N/AC:L/Au:N/C:C/I:C/A:C");
      script_set_cvss3_base_vector("CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/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:dropbear");
      script_set_attribute(attribute:"cpe", value:"cpe:/o:gentoo:linux");
    
      script_set_attribute(attribute:"patch_publication_date", value:"2017/02/20");
      script_set_attribute(attribute:"plugin_publication_date", value:"2017/02/21");
      script_end_attributes();
    
      script_category(ACT_GATHER_INFO);
      script_copyright(english:"This script is Copyright (C) 2017 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-misc/dropbear", unaffected:make_list("ge 2016.74"), vulnerable:make_list("lt 2016.74"))) 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, "Dropbear");
    }