CVE-2018-20483 : Security Advisory and Response

CVE-2018-20483 was published on December 26, 2018, and affects GNU Wget versions before 1.20.1. The vulnerability allows local users to access sensitive information by reading specific extended file attributes.

Understanding CVE-2018-20483

This CVE entry highlights a security flaw in the way GNU Wget handles file metadata, potentially exposing sensitive data to unauthorized users.

What is CVE-2018-20483?

The vulnerability in the function "set_file_metadata" within GNU Wget versions before 1.20.1 allows local users to access sensitive information, such as credentials and Referer information, by reading specific extended file attributes.

The Impact of CVE-2018-20483

The vulnerability could lead to unauthorized access to sensitive data, including credentials, contained in the URL of downloaded files, posing a risk to the security and privacy of affected systems.

Technical Details of CVE-2018-20483

This section delves into the technical aspects of the CVE, including the vulnerability description, affected systems, and exploitation mechanism.

Vulnerability Description

The flaw in GNU Wget versions before 1.20.1 stores the original URL of a file in specific extended file attributes, allowing local users to extract sensitive information using the "getfattr" command.

Affected Systems and Versions

Product: GNU Wget
Vendor: GNU
Versions Affected: Before 1.20.1

Exploitation Mechanism

Local users can exploit the vulnerability by reading the "user.xdg.origin.url" and "user.xdg.referrer.url" attributes using the "getfattr" command.

Mitigation and Prevention

Protecting systems from CVE-2018-20483 requires immediate actions and long-term security practices.

Immediate Steps to Take

Update GNU Wget to version 1.20.1 or later to mitigate the vulnerability.
Monitor and restrict access to extended file attributes to prevent unauthorized data extraction.

Long-Term Security Practices

Implement the principle of least privilege to limit user access to sensitive information.
Regularly audit and review file permissions and attributes to ensure data security.

Patching and Updates

Apply security patches provided by GNU to address the vulnerability and enhance system security.