CVE-2023-35845 : What You Need to Know

This article provides insights into CVE-2023-35845, a vulnerability found in Anaconda 3 2023.03-1-Linux that can be exploited by local users to disrupt TLS certificate validation.

Understanding CVE-2023-35845

CVE-2023-35845 is a security flaw identified in Anaconda 3 2023.03-1-Linux, allowing local users to interfere with TLS certificate validation by tampering with the cacert.pem file used by the installed pip program. The issue arises from files being installed as world-writable on Linux, disregarding umask settings, even if they are installed as root. Additionally, Miniconda is also impacted by this vulnerability.

What is CVE-2023-35845?

CVE-2023-35845 is a vulnerability in Anaconda 3 2023.03-1-Linux that enables local users to disrupt TLS certificate validation by modifying the cacert.pem file used by the pip program.

The Impact of CVE-2023-35845

The vulnerability could be exploited by attackers with local access to the system to manipulate the cacert.pem file, potentially leading to unauthorized changes in TLS certificate validation, posing a risk to the integrity and security of the system.

Technical Details of CVE-2023-35845

The following information delves deeper into the technical aspects of CVE-2023-35845.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability in Anaconda 3 2023.03-1-Linux allows local users to disrupt TLS certificate validation by altering the world-writable cacert.pem file used by the pip program.

Affected Systems and Versions

The issue impacts Anaconda 3 2023.03-1-Linux and its Miniconda variant.

Exploitation Mechanism

By exploiting the ability to modify the cacert.pem file, local users can manipulate TLS certificate validation, potentially leading to security breaches.

Mitigation and Prevention

To address CVE-2023-35845, it is crucial to implement the following security measures.

Immediate Steps to Take

Monitor and restrict access to sensitive files such as the cacert.pem file.
Regularly update and review file permissions to prevent unauthorized modifications.

Long-Term Security Practices

Enforce the principle of least privilege to limit users' ability to alter critical system files.
Conduct regular security audits and vulnerability scans to identify and address emerging threats.

Patching and Updates

Stay informed about security patches and updates released by the software vendors to mitigate the vulnerability effectively.