CVE-2018-7169 : Exploit Details and Defense Strategies
Discover the impact of CVE-2018-7169, a vulnerability in shadow 4.5 allowing privilege escalation. Learn about affected systems, exploitation, and mitigation steps.
A vulnerability has been found in shadow 4.5 that affects the newgidmap setuid binary, allowing unprivileged users to escalate privileges and potentially gain access to restricted filesystem paths.
Understanding CVE-2018-7169
This CVE entry highlights a security flaw in the shadow-utils package that can be exploited by attackers to bypass kernel security mechanisms.
What is CVE-2018-7169?
The vulnerability in the newgidmap binary of shadow 4.5 allows unprivileged users to manipulate group settings, potentially leading to unauthorized access to sensitive filesystem paths.
The Impact of CVE-2018-7169
Exploiting this vulnerability can result in privilege escalation, enabling attackers to access restricted paths and compromise system security measures.
Technical Details of CVE-2018-7169
This section delves into the specifics of the vulnerability, affected systems, and the exploitation mechanism.
Vulnerability Description
The flaw in newgidmap allows users to bypass setgroups(2) restrictions, potentially granting access to restricted filesystem paths, undermining kernel security mechanisms.
Affected Systems and Versions
- Product: Shadow 4.5
- Vendor: N/A
- Version: N/A
Exploitation Mechanism
Attackers can exploit the newgidmap binary to manipulate group settings, bypassing security measures and gaining unauthorized access to specific filesystem paths.
Mitigation and Prevention
Protecting systems from CVE-2018-7169 requires immediate actions and long-term security practices.
Immediate Steps to Take
- Apply patches and updates provided by the vendor promptly.
- Monitor system logs for any suspicious activities related to group manipulation.
Long-Term Security Practices
- Implement the principle of least privilege to restrict user access rights.
- Regularly review and update filesystem permissions to prevent unauthorized access.
Patching and Updates
- Stay informed about security advisories from relevant vendors.
- Regularly update the shadow-utils package to mitigate known vulnerabilities.