CVE-2017-15108 : Security Advisory and Response

CVE-2017-15108 is a vulnerability in spice-vdagent up to and including version 0.17.0 that allows a local attacker to execute arbitrary commands by manipulating the save directory passed to the shell.

Understanding CVE-2017-15108

This CVE entry highlights a security flaw in spice-vdagent that could be exploited by a local attacker with access to the agent's session.

What is CVE-2017-15108?

Versions of spice-vdagent prior to 0.17.0 are susceptible to a vulnerability where the save directory is not adequately protected, allowing a local attacker to inject and execute arbitrary commands.

The Impact of CVE-2017-15108

The vulnerability could lead to unauthorized command execution by a malicious actor with access to the affected agent's session.

Technical Details of CVE-2017-15108

Vulnerability Description

The flaw in spice-vdagent allows a local attacker to manipulate the save directory passed to the shell, enabling the execution of arbitrary commands.

Affected Systems and Versions

Product: spice-vdagent
Vendor: Red Hat, Inc.
Versions Affected: up to and including 0.17.0

Exploitation Mechanism

The vulnerability can be exploited by a local attacker with access to the agent's session, allowing them to inject and execute malicious commands.

Mitigation and Prevention

Immediate Steps to Take

Update spice-vdagent to version 0.17.0 or later to mitigate the vulnerability.
Restrict access to the agent's session to trusted users only.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly monitor and audit the agent's activities for any suspicious behavior.
Implement the principle of least privilege to limit access to sensitive functionalities.

Patching and Updates

Ensure timely installation of security updates and patches provided by the vendor to address known vulnerabilities.