CVE-2020-13696 Explained : Impact and Mitigation
Discover the impact of CVE-2020-13696, a vulnerability in LinuxTV xawtv before 3.107 allowing local attackers to access arbitrary files. Learn about affected systems, exploitation, and mitigation steps.
An issue was discovered in LinuxTV xawtv before 3.107, allowing a local attacker to open unintended filesystem paths. This vulnerability could be exploited by an unprivileged caller of the program with access to the v4l-conf setuid-root program.
Understanding CVE-2020-13696
This CVE identifies a security flaw in LinuxTV xawtv that could be leveraged by a local attacker to access arbitrary files.
What is CVE-2020-13696?
The vulnerability in LinuxTV xawtv before version 3.107 arises from inadequate checks in the dev_open() function in v4l-conf.c. This oversight enables an unprivileged user to open unintended filesystem paths, potentially leading to unauthorized access to sensitive files.
The Impact of CVE-2020-13696
The security issue allows a local attacker with access to the v4l-conf setuid-root program to test for the existence of arbitrary files and trigger an open on arbitrary files with mode O_RDWR. By adding relative path components to the device path, an attacker could exploit this vulnerability.
Technical Details of CVE-2020-13696
This section provides more in-depth technical insights into the CVE.
Vulnerability Description
The dev_open() function in v4l-conf.c lacks sufficient checks, enabling unprivileged users to open unintended filesystem paths.
Affected Systems and Versions
- Product: LinuxTV xawtv
- Versions affected: Before 3.107
Exploitation Mechanism
To exploit this vulnerability, a local attacker needs access to the v4l-conf setuid-root program and must add relative path components to the device path.
Mitigation and Prevention
Protecting systems from CVE-2020-13696 requires immediate actions and long-term security practices.
Immediate Steps to Take
- Update LinuxTV xawtv to version 3.107 or newer to mitigate the vulnerability.
- Restrict access to the v4l-conf setuid-root program to trusted users only.
Long-Term Security Practices
- Regularly monitor and audit file system access and permissions.
- Implement the principle of least privilege to limit user access rights.
Patching and Updates
- Apply security patches promptly to address known vulnerabilities.