CVE-2017-12424 : Exploit Details and Defense Strategies

CVE-2017-12424 was published on August 4, 2017, and affects the newusers tool in shadow versions before 4.5. This vulnerability could lead to buffer overflow, memory corruption, and other unspecified behaviors, especially in web-hosting environments.

Understanding CVE-2017-12424

Before version 4.5, the newusers tool in shadow allowed unintended manipulation of internal data structures, potentially resulting in crashes and privilege boundary violations.

What is CVE-2017-12424?

This CVE describes a vulnerability in the newusers tool of shadow versions prior to 4.5. Malformed input could trigger buffer overflows, memory corruption, and other unexpected behaviors, particularly in web-hosting setups.

The Impact of CVE-2017-12424

The vulnerability could lead to crashes, buffer overflows, memory corruption, and privilege boundary violations, especially in scenarios where unprivileged users can create subaccounts.

Technical Details of CVE-2017-12424

The technical details of this CVE include:

Vulnerability Description

The newusers tool in shadow versions before 4.5 could be manipulated with malformed input, potentially causing crashes, buffer overflows, memory corruption, and privilege boundary violations.

Affected Systems and Versions

Product: N/A
Vendor: N/A
Versions: All versions before 4.5

Exploitation Mechanism

The vulnerability arises from the newusers tool's susceptibility to malformed input, allowing attackers to manipulate internal data structures and trigger crashes or memory corruption.

Mitigation and Prevention

To address CVE-2017-12424, consider the following steps:

Immediate Steps to Take

Update shadow to version 4.5 or newer to mitigate the vulnerability.
Monitor for any unusual activities that could indicate exploitation of the vulnerability.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update software and apply security patches promptly.
Implement the principle of least privilege to restrict user capabilities and minimize potential risks.

Patching and Updates

Apply the latest security updates provided by the shadow project to fix the vulnerability and enhance system security.