CVE-2019-6133 : Security Advisory and Response
Learn about CVE-2019-6133 affecting PolicyKit version 0.115. Understand the impact, technical details, and mitigation strategies for this security vulnerability.
CVE-2019-6133 was published on January 11, 2019, and affects the PolicyKit (polkit) version 0.115. The vulnerability allows for the circumvention of the protection mechanism related to the 'start time' due to issues in the fork() function, leading to incorrect authorization decisions being cached.
Understanding CVE-2019-6133
This CVE entry highlights a security vulnerability in PolicyKit version 0.115 that can be exploited to bypass the 'start time' protection mechanism.
What is CVE-2019-6133?
The vulnerability in CVE-2019-6133 arises from the lack of atomicity in the fork() function within PolicyKit, resulting in improperly cached authorization decisions. Specifically, the issue is tied to the absence of uid checking in polkitbackend/polkitbackendinteractiveauthority.c.
The Impact of CVE-2019-6133
The vulnerability allows malicious actors to manipulate the authorization decisions within PolicyKit, potentially leading to unauthorized access to sensitive resources and actions on affected systems.
Technical Details of CVE-2019-6133
CVE-2019-6133 involves the following technical aspects:
Vulnerability Description
The vulnerability in PolicyKit version 0.115 allows for the bypassing of the 'start time' protection mechanism due to the lack of atomicity in the fork() function, resulting in incorrectly cached authorization decisions.
Affected Systems and Versions
- Product: N/A
- Vendor: N/A
- Version: N/A
Exploitation Mechanism
The vulnerability can be exploited by leveraging the lack of uid checking in the polkitbackendinteractiveauthority.c file, enabling unauthorized access to authorization decisions.
Mitigation and Prevention
To address CVE-2019-6133, consider the following mitigation strategies:
Immediate Steps to Take
- Apply security patches provided by the vendor promptly.
- Monitor for any unauthorized access or changes to authorization decisions.
Long-Term Security Practices
- Regularly update and patch software to address known vulnerabilities.
- Implement least privilege access controls to limit the impact of potential security breaches.
Patching and Updates
Ensure that PolicyKit is updated to a patched version that addresses the vulnerability to prevent exploitation and unauthorized access.