In this post, we'll discuss the details of a recently discovered security vulnerability, CVE-2024-22029, in Apache Tomcat's packaging. The vulnerability exposes Tomcat to a race condition that, if exploited, allows local users to escalate their privileges to the root level during package installation. We will delve into the code snippet, original references, and exploit details for a clear understanding of the issue.
Background
Apache Tomcat is a widely-used open-source Java Servlet container that implements several Java EE specifications. Tomcat provides a "pure Java" HTTP web server environment for Java code to run. Due to its widespread adoption, any vulnerability in Tomcat can impact a great number of users and developers.
CVE-2024-22029 Description
Insecure permissions have been discovered in the packaging of Tomcat, which could allow local users who win a race during package installation to escalate their privileges to root. The issue is present because of a world-writable permissions configuration for a directory, which leads to a race condition.
Details about the vulnerability can be found in the following links
1. CVE Details: https://cve.mitre.org/cgi-bin/cvename.cgi?name=CVE-2024-22029
2. Apache Tomcat Security Advisory: https://tomcat.apache.org/security-9.html
3. National Vulnerability Database (NVD): https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2024-22029
Code Snippet
The vulnerability involves a directory with permissions set as 777 or drwxrwxrwx. The below code snippet illustrates this issue in the Tomcat package.
#!/bin/bash
# Insecure permissions are set during the package installation
# Create the directory with world-writable permissions
mkdir -m 777 /path/to/vulnerable_directory
# Install the Tomcat package
tar -xzvf apache-tomcat-9..x.tar.gz -C /path/to/vulnerable_directory
The above code snippet shows the creation of a directory with 777 permissions, allowing any user to write, read or execute files in the directory. Installing Tomcat in such a directory creates a window for potential attackers to exploit a race condition.
Escalate their privileges to root when the installation completes and files are executed.
The attacker's success depends on their ability to replace files within the world-writable directory during the installation process. Though the window of opportunity is small, the impact could be severe if successful.
To prevent exploitation of this vulnerability, follow the steps below
1. Ensure that the directory used for installation has proper permissions, allowing access only to the necessary users. Preferably, set the permissions to 755 or drwxr-xr-x.
`bash
chmod 755 /path/to/vulnerable_directory
Conclusion
CVE-2024-22029 serves as a reminder to be cautious while setting file and directory permissions. Properly managing permissions and promptly updating software packages are crucial steps in ensuring a secure environment. It's essential to be aware of potential vulnerabilities and take appropriate actions to mitigate the risks they pose.
Timeline
Published on: 10/16/2024 14:15:04 UTC
Last modified on: 10/16/2024 16:38:14 UTC