CVE-2017-12164 : Exploit Details and Defense Strategies

This CVE-2017-12164 article provides insights into a vulnerability found in the GNOME Display Manager (gdm) version 3.24.1, impacting user autologin functionality.

Understanding CVE-2017-12164

An issue in the gdm 3.24.1 software version allowed unauthorized access to a user's screen through the autologin feature.

What is CVE-2017-12164?

The vulnerability in gdm 3.24.1 enabled attackers to bypass screen locks via the 'login as another user' option.

The Impact of CVE-2017-12164

The vulnerability had a CVSS base score of 4.1 (Medium severity) with low impacts on confidentiality, integrity, and availability.

Technical Details of CVE-2017-12164

The technical aspects of the CVE-2017-12164 vulnerability are outlined below:

Vulnerability Description

The gdm greeter failed to set the ran_once boolean during autologin, allowing unauthorized screen access.

Affected Systems and Versions

Product: gdm
Vendor: GNOME
Version: 3.24.1

Exploitation Mechanism

Attack Complexity: Low Attack Vector: Physical User Interaction: Required Privileges Required: None Scope: Unchanged Vector String: CVSS:3.0/AV:P/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:L/I:L/A:L

Mitigation and Prevention

Steps to mitigate and prevent exploitation of CVE-2017-12164:

Immediate Steps to Take

Disable autologin feature in gdm settings
Regularly monitor and review user login activities

Long-Term Security Practices

Implement multi-factor authentication for user logins
Conduct security audits and penetration testing regularly

Patching and Updates

Apply patches provided by GNOME and Red Hat to address the vulnerability