CVE-2020-8793 : Security Advisory and Response

OpenSMTPD before 6.6.4 allows local users to read arbitrary files due to untrusted search path and race conditions.

Understanding CVE-2020-8793

OpenSMTPD vulnerability allowing local users to access arbitrary files.

What is CVE-2020-8793?

OpenSMTPD before version 6.6.4 is susceptible to a security flaw that enables local users to read arbitrary files on certain Linux distributions.

The Impact of CVE-2020-8793

The vulnerability permits unauthorized access to sensitive files, potentially leading to information disclosure and unauthorized data retrieval.

Technical Details of CVE-2020-8793

Details of the vulnerability and its implications.

Vulnerability Description

OpenSMTPD before 6.6.4 allows local users to read arbitrary files due to an untrusted search path in makemap.c and race conditions in smtpd.c.

Affected Systems and Versions

Product: Not applicable
Vendor: Not applicable
Versions affected: Not applicable

Exploitation Mechanism

The vulnerability arises from a combination of an untrusted search path in makemap.c and race conditions in the offline functionality in smtpd.c.

Mitigation and Prevention

Ways to address and prevent the CVE-2020-8793 vulnerability.

Immediate Steps to Take

Update OpenSMTPD to version 6.6.4 or later to mitigate the vulnerability.
Restrict access to the system to trusted users only.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly monitor and audit file access and permissions on the system.
Implement the principle of least privilege to limit user access to only necessary files and directories.

Patching and Updates

Apply patches and updates provided by OpenSMTPD promptly to address security vulnerabilities.