CVE-2017-7500 : What You Need to Know

An issue was discovered in the handling of RPM installations by rpm, potentially leading to unauthorized alterations in ownership and permissions of directories.

Understanding CVE-2017-7500

What is CVE-2017-7500?

CVE-2017-7500 is a vulnerability in the RPM package manager that allows attackers to manipulate directory ownership and permissions during installations.

The Impact of CVE-2017-7500

The vulnerability could result in unauthorized changes to directory ownership and permissions, potentially leading to the placement of RPM files in unintended locations.

Technical Details of CVE-2017-7500

Vulnerability Description

The issue arises when the destination path is a symbolic link to a directory, enabling attackers to alter ownership and permissions of unintended directories.

Affected Systems and Versions

Product: rpm
Versions affected: 4.13.0.2, 4.14.0

Exploitation Mechanism

Attacker needs write access to a directory where a subdirectory will be installed
By redirecting the directory to a different location, an attacker can potentially gain root privileges

Mitigation and Prevention

Immediate Steps to Take

Apply patches provided by the vendor
Monitor for any unauthorized changes in directory ownership and permissions

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update and patch software to prevent vulnerabilities
Implement least privilege access controls to limit potential damage

Patching and Updates

Update to the latest version of RPM to mitigate the vulnerability