First published: Sun Sep 11 2011(Updated: )
Description of problem: Between F14 and F15, NetworkManager was changed so that unprivileged console users can store both personal and system connections via the ifcfg-rh plugin. As a result, <a class="bz_bug_link bz_status_CLOSED bz_closed bz_public " title="CLOSED WONTFIX - ifcfg plugin can write connection name containing newlines, corrupting file" href="show_bug.cgi?id=682290">bug 682290</a> now constitutes a vulnerability allowing such users to escalate to root. To avoid calling attention to this, I am filing a separate bug rather than updating <a class="bz_bug_link bz_status_CLOSED bz_closed bz_public " title="CLOSED WONTFIX - ifcfg plugin can write connection name containing newlines, corrupting file" href="show_bug.cgi?id=682290">bug 682290</a>. Version-Release number of selected component (if applicable): NetworkManager-0.9.0-1.fc15 How reproducible: Always Steps to Reproduce (as an unprivileged console user): 1. Create a wired connection named `test'. 2. Change the name to `test\nUSERCTL=true\n/bin/bash', where `\n' stands for a newline entered via Ctrl-Shift-U, A. 3. usernetctl test up Actual results: Root shell. Expected results: Format integrity of /etc/sysconfig/network-scripts/ifcfg-test is maintained.
Affected Software | Affected Version | How to fix |
---|---|---|
NetworkManager | >=0.9.0<0.9.0-1.fc15 |
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The severity of REDHAT-BUG-737338 is considered moderate due to the potential for unprivileged console users to modify network settings.
To fix REDHAT-BUG-737338, update your NetworkManager to a version later than 0.9.0-1.fc15.
Versions of NetworkManager from 0.9.0 up to and including 0.9.0-1.fc15 are affected by REDHAT-BUG-737338.
The impact of REDHAT-BUG-737338 includes allowing unprivileged users to create and modify network connection configurations.
A temporary workaround for REDHAT-BUG-737338 is to restrict access to the NetworkManager configuration files to prevent unprivileged users from making changes.