VMware Symlink Vulnerability
BID:943
Info
VMware Symlink Vulnerability
| Bugtraq ID: | 943 |
| Class: | Origin Validation Error |
| CVE: | |
| Remote: | No |
| Local: | Yes |
| Published: | Jan 21 2000 12:00AM |
| Updated: | Jan 21 2000 12:00AM |
| Credit: | This vulnerability was detailed in a W00W00 advisory and posted to the Bugtraq mailing list by harikiri <[email protected]> on Mon, 24 Jan 2000. |
| Vulnerable: |
VMWare VMWare 1.1.2 VMWare VMWare 1.1.1 VMWare VMWare 1.1 VMWare VMWare 1.0.2 VMWare VMWare 1.0.1 |
| Not Vulnerable: | |
Discussion
VMware Symlink Vulnerability
VMware is software that runs multiple virtual computers on a single PC, at the same time, without partitioning or rebooting.
Certain versions of the VMWare for Linux product do not perform /tmp file sanity checking and create files in the /tmp directory which will follow symlinks. This may be used by a malicious user to overwrite any file (with log data) which falls within the write permissions of the user ID which VMWare excecutes as. Typically this is root. This attack will most likely result in a denial of service and not a root level compromise.
VMware is software that runs multiple virtual computers on a single PC, at the same time, without partitioning or rebooting.
Certain versions of the VMWare for Linux product do not perform /tmp file sanity checking and create files in the /tmp directory which will follow symlinks. This may be used by a malicious user to overwrite any file (with log data) which falls within the write permissions of the user ID which VMWare excecutes as. Typically this is root. This attack will most likely result in a denial of service and not a root level compromise.
Solution / Fix
VMware Symlink Vulnerability
Solution:
Currently the SecurityFocus staff are not aware of any vendor supplied patches for this issue. If you feel we are in error or are aware of more recent information, please mail us at: [email protected].
VMWare does however let allow you to set the location of your temporary directory for it's file creation via the $TMPDIR environment variable. Therefore you may wish to set your $TMPDIR variable to something with more stringent permissions, such as a sub-directory off your own home directory ($HOME).
Solution:
Currently the SecurityFocus staff are not aware of any vendor supplied patches for this issue. If you feel we are in error or are aware of more recent information, please mail us at: [email protected].
VMWare does however let allow you to set the location of your temporary directory for it's file creation via the $TMPDIR environment variable. Therefore you may wish to set your $TMPDIR variable to something with more stringent permissions, such as a sub-directory off your own home directory ($HOME).