CVE-2017-7572 : Vulnerability Insights and Analysis

Back In Time (aka backintime) application versions 1.1.18 and earlier are vulnerable to a race condition due to the usage of a deprecated polkit authorization method.

Understanding CVE-2017-7572

What is CVE-2017-7572?

The _checkPolkitPrivilege function in serviceHelper.py in Back In Time uses a deprecated polkit authorization method that is prone to a race condition known as "time of check, time of use." This vulnerability allows a process with different privileges to replace the original requester.

The Impact of CVE-2017-7572

This vulnerability could be exploited by attackers to gain unauthorized access or escalate privileges on affected systems.

Technical Details of CVE-2017-7572

Vulnerability Description

The _checkPolkitPrivilege function in Back In Time 1.1.18 and earlier is susceptible to a race condition due to the usage of a deprecated polkit authorization method.

Affected Systems and Versions

Back In Time (backintime) application versions 1.1.18 and earlier

Exploitation Mechanism

Attackers can exploit the race condition to replace the original process making the request with a different process having different privileges.

Mitigation and Prevention

Immediate Steps to Take

Update Back In Time to the latest version to patch the vulnerability
Monitor system logs for any suspicious activities

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update software and applications to mitigate known vulnerabilities
Implement the principle of least privilege to restrict access rights

Patching and Updates

Apply security patches and updates provided by the software vendor to address the vulnerability