CVE-2019-12937 : Vulnerability Insights and Analysis

ToaruOS versions 1.10.9 and earlier contain a buffer overflow vulnerability in the gsudo application, allowing local attackers to escalate privileges and gain root access via manipulation of the DISPLAY environment variable.

Understanding CVE-2019-12937

This CVE identifies a security flaw in ToaruOS that can lead to privilege escalation.

What is CVE-2019-12937?

The vulnerability in the gsudo application in ToaruOS versions 1.10.9 and prior allows local attackers to exploit a buffer overflow, granting them root user privileges by manipulating the DISPLAY environment variable.

The Impact of CVE-2019-12937

The exploit enables attackers with local access to elevate their privileges, potentially leading to unauthorized control over the system.

Technical Details of CVE-2019-12937

To understand the technical aspects of this vulnerability:

Vulnerability Description

The buffer overflow in the gsudo application permits local privilege escalation to the root user through the manipulation of the DISPLAY environment variable.

Affected Systems and Versions

Affected System: ToaruOS
Affected Versions: 1.10.9 and earlier

Exploitation Mechanism

The vulnerability is exploited by local attackers who manipulate the DISPLAY environment variable to trigger the buffer overflow, allowing them to gain root privileges.

Mitigation and Prevention

To address CVE-2019-12937, consider the following steps:

Immediate Steps to Take

Disable or restrict access to the gsudo application.
Monitor and restrict environment variables that can be manipulated.

Long-Term Security Practices

Implement the principle of least privilege to limit user access.
Regularly update and patch the ToaruOS system to address security vulnerabilities.

Patching and Updates

Apply patches or updates provided by ToaruOS to fix the buffer overflow vulnerability in the gsudo application.