Root-owned file clobbering via PID path override
Published May 6, 2021 · Updated Aug 4, 2024
Improper privilege management in Exim before 4.94.2 allows local users with the exim account to overwrite root-owned files. The override_pid_file_path option accepts an attacker-chosen -oP path, and the setuid-root daemon creates or truncates that file while writing an uncontrollable PID. Access to the exim service account is required; direct exploitation can corrupt privileged files and interrupt service, while full root compromise requires chaining another flaw.
Summary
What happened
Improper privilege management in Exim before 4.94.2 allows local users with the exim account to overwrite root-owned files. The override_pid_file_path option accepts an attacker-chosen -oP path, and the setuid-root daemon creates or truncates that file while writing an uncontrollable PID. Access to the exim service account is required; direct exploitation can corrupt privileged files and interrupt service, while full root compromise requires chaining another flaw.
The record
- CVE
- CVE-2020-28014
- Published
- May 6, 2021
- Updated
- Aug 4, 2024
- Vendor
- Unknown vendor
- Product
- Unknown product
- Classifications
- CWE-269, T1485
- Attack vector
- local
- Privileges
- authenticated
Timeline
How it unfolded
- May 6, 2021CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
- Aug 4, 2024Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.
Exploitability
Present is not the same as exploitable
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What is affected?
Affected products and versions are unavailable in this record.
Attacks
What attackers are doing with it
Daily unique IPs observed by Shadowserver honeypots for known exploited vulnerabilities (KEVs). Missing observations do not establish an absence of attacks.
Public exploit references
- Qualys -oP PID-file clobbering proof of conceptfunctional · demonstrated
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Technologies
Your stack
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Your stack
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