Root code execution via Python module hijacking
Published Sep 6, 2022 · Updated Aug 3, 2024
Local privilege escalation in WatchGuard Firebox and XTM appliances allows local users with shell access to execute code as root. The setuid-root /usr/bin/fault_rep utility invokes the Python /usr/bin/diag_snapgen script while honoring an attacker-controlled PYTHONPATH, causing a fake subprocess or glob module to load with root privileges. Existing low-privilege shell access is required; successful exploitation grants full root command execution on the appliance.
Summary
What happened
Local privilege escalation in WatchGuard Firebox and XTM appliances allows local users with shell access to execute code as root. The setuid-root /usr/bin/fault_rep utility invokes the Python /usr/bin/diag_snapgen script while honoring an attacker-controlled PYTHONPATH, causing a fake subprocess or glob module to load with root privileges. Existing low-privilege shell access is required; successful exploitation grants full root command execution on the appliance.
The record
- CVE
- CVE-2022-31791
- Published
- Sep 6, 2022
- Updated
- Aug 3, 2024
- Vendor
- Unknown vendor
- Product
- Unknown product
- Classifications
- T1068
- Attack vector
- local
- Privileges
- Unavailable
Timeline
How it unfolded
- Sep 6, 2022CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
- Aug 3, 2024Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.
Exploitability
Present is not the same as exploitable
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Is a vulnerable build present?
What conditions does exploitation require?
What is affected?
Affected products and versions are unavailable in this record.
Published CVSS scores
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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.
Weakness, pattern, technique
Public exploit references
- PYTHONPATH module-hijacking local-root proof of conceptfunctional · demonstrated
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Reported exploitation
- Firebox pre-authentication remote-root exploit chainexploit chain
Technologies
Your stack
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Your stack
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