Adobe Version Cue VCNative Arbitrary File Overwrite Vulnerability iDEFENSE Security Advisory 08.29.05 www.idefense.com/application/poi/display?id=297&type=vulnerabilities August 29, 2005 I. BACKGROUND Adobe Version Cue is a software version tracking system for Adobe products distributed with Adobe Creative Suite and select Adobe products. II. DESCRIPTION Local exploitation of a design error in Adobe Systems, Inc. Version Cue allows local attackers to gain root privileges. Version Cue includes a setuid root application named VCNative which is vulnerable to a symlink attack. The vulnerability specifically exists due to the use of predictable log file names. VCNative uses a format such as "VCNative-[pid].log" for the filename and stores the file in the current working directory. Attackers can easily predict the created filename and supply user-controlled data via the "-host" and "- port" options. A carefully supplied value can cause a crafted "log file" to be written. Crafted strings written to root-owned files can lead to arbitrary code execution with root privileges. III. ANALYSIS Successful exploitation allows local attackers to write to arbitrary files with user-supplied data. Data written to the linked file will include some corrupted data as well as user-suppplied data, potentially corrupting a file completely and preventing the execution of system commands. In addition, a carefully crafted input value can be used in conjunction with standard system tools such as cron to gain root privileges. A workaround solution has been provided for this vulnerability. In addition, the vulnerability affects only the Apple OS X platform and is only installed with Adobe Creative Suite or other Adobe products. IV. DETECTION iDEFENSE Labs has confirmed the existence of this vulnerability in Adobe Version Cue version 1 on the Apple OS X platform. V. WORKAROUND As a workaround solution, remove the setuid bit from the VCNative binary and execute the application as a root user when necessary. VI. VENDOR RESPONSE Adobe Version Cue Update 2 which addresses this vulnerability, is available for download at: http://www.adobe.com/support/downloads/detail.jsp?ftpID=2985 The vendor advisory for this vulnerability is located at: http://www.adobe.com/support/techdocs/327129.html VII. CVE INFORMATION The Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures (CVE) project has assigned the name CAN-2005-1842 to this issue. This is a candidate for inclusion in the CVE list (http://cve.mitre.org), which standardizes names for security problems. VIII. DISCLOSURE TIMELINE 06/27/2005 Initial vendor notification 06/27/2005 Initial vendor response 08/29/2005 Public disclosure IX. CREDIT vade79 (http://fakehalo.us) is credited with this discovery. Get paid for vulnerability research http://www.idefense.com/poi/teams/vcp.jsp Free tools, research and upcoming events http://labs.idefense.com X. LEGAL NOTICES Copyright (c) 2005 iDEFENSE, Inc. Permission is granted for the redistribution of this alert electronically. It may not be edited in any way without the express written consent of iDEFENSE. If you wish to reprint the whole or any part of this alert in any other medium other than electronically, please email customerservice@private for permission. Disclaimer: The information in the advisory is believed to be accurate at the time of publishing based on currently available information. Use of the information constitutes acceptance for use in an AS IS condition. There are no warranties with regard to this information. Neither the author nor the publisher accepts any liability for any direct, indirect, or consequential loss or damage arising from use of, or reliance on, this information.
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