CVE-2020-15708 : Security Advisory and Response
Learn about CVE-2020-15708, a critical vulnerability in Ubuntu's libvirt service allowing arbitrary file write privilege escalation. Find mitigation steps and patching details here.
Ubuntu's packaging of libvirt in 20.04 LTS created a control socket with world read and write permissions, leading to an arbitrary file write privilege escalation vulnerability.
Understanding CVE-2020-15708
This CVE involves a critical vulnerability in the libvirt service packaged by Ubuntu, potentially allowing attackers to overwrite files or execute arbitrary code.
What is CVE-2020-15708?
The vulnerability in Ubuntu's libvirt service allows attackers to exploit a control socket with excessive permissions, enabling unauthorized file overwrites or code execution.
The Impact of CVE-2020-15708
The impact of this CVE is rated as critical, with a CVSS base score of 9.3. It poses a high risk to confidentiality, integrity, and availability of affected systems.
Technical Details of CVE-2020-15708
This section provides detailed technical information about the vulnerability.
Vulnerability Description
The vulnerability arises from the improper permission settings on the control socket created by Ubuntu's libvirt packaging, allowing unauthorized access for file manipulation and code execution.
Affected Systems and Versions
- Product: libvirt
- Vendor: Ubuntu
- Versions Affected: < 6.0.0-0ubuntu8.3 (unspecified version type)
Exploitation Mechanism
- Attack Complexity: Low
- Attack Vector: Local
- Privileges Required: None
- Scope: Changed
- User Interaction: None
- Confidentiality Impact: High
- Integrity Impact: High
- Availability Impact: High
Mitigation and Prevention
Protecting systems from CVE-2020-15708 requires immediate actions and long-term security practices.
Immediate Steps to Take
- Apply the vendor-provided patch or update to version 6.0.0-0ubuntu8.3 or higher.
- Monitor system logs for any suspicious activities.
Long-Term Security Practices
- Regularly update and patch all software components.
- Implement the principle of least privilege to restrict unnecessary access.
- Conduct regular security audits and assessments.
Patching and Updates
- Update libvirt to version 6.0.0-0ubuntu8.3 or above to mitigate the vulnerability.