CyberSecBulletin
CVE-2024-1488NVD status: Modified

Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8: Incorrect Default Permissions

CVE-2024-1488 is a high-severity incorrect default permissions vulnerability in Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8 from Red Hat, with a CVSS 3.1 base score of 7.3 out of 10. It can be exploited with local access to the system by an attacker with a low-privileged account, without any action from a user. There is no confirmed exploitation so far. EPSS estimates a 0.32% chance of exploitation within 30 days, which is low compared with other CVEs.

Next patch cycle

High severity with no evidence of exploitation so far.

What to do

  1. Update Unbound to 1.19.1-2.fc40 or a later version.

Affected products and versions

VendorProductAffected versionsFixed in
Red HatRed Hat Enterprise Linux 8Not specified in the recordNot stated
Red HatRed Hat Enterprise Linux 8.2 Advanced Update SupportNot specified in the recordNot stated
Red HatRed Hat Enterprise Linux 8.2 Telecommunications Update ServiceNot specified in the recordNot stated
Red HatRed Hat Enterprise Linux 8.2 Update Services for SAP SolutionsNot specified in the recordNot stated
Red HatRed Hat Enterprise Linux 8.4 Advanced Mission Critical Update SupportNot specified in the recordNot stated
Red HatRed Hat Enterprise Linux 8.4 Telecommunications Update ServiceNot specified in the recordNot stated
Red HatRed Hat Enterprise Linux 8.4 Update Services for SAP SolutionsNot specified in the recordNot stated
Red HatRed Hat Enterprise Linux 8.6 Extended Update SupportNot specified in the recordNot stated
Red HatRed Hat Enterprise Linux 8.8 Extended Update SupportNot specified in the recordNot stated
Red HatRed Hat Enterprise Linux 9Not specified in the recordNot stated
Red HatRed Hat Enterprise Linux 9.0 Extended Update SupportNot specified in the recordNot stated
Red HatRed Hat Enterprise Linux 9.2 Extended Update SupportNot specified in the recordNot stated
Red HatRed Hat Enterprise Linux 10Not specified in the recordNot stated
Red HatRed Hat Enterprise Linux 6Not specified in the recordNot stated
Red HatRed Hat Enterprise Linux 7Not specified in the recordNot stated
Fedora ProjectUnboundbefore 1.19.1-2.fc401.19.1-2.fc40
Red HatCodeready Linux Builder9.0Not stated
Red HatCodeready Linux Builder EUS9.2; 9.4Not stated
Red HatCodeready Linux Builder EUS For Power Little Endian9.0_ppc64le; 9.2_ppc64leNot stated
Red HatCodeready Linux Builder For Arm649.0_aarch64; 9.2_aarch64Not stated
Red HatCodeready Linux Builder For Arm64 EUS9.4_aarch64Not stated
Red HatCodeready Linux Builder For IBM Z Systems9.0_s390x; 9.2_s390xNot stated
Red HatCodeready Linux Builder For IBM Z Systems EUS9.4_s390xNot stated
Red HatEnterprise Linux8.0; 9.0Not stated
Red HatEnterprise Linux EUS8.6; 8.8; 9.2; 9.4Not stated

Version data comes from the organisation that assigned the CVE; 9 further products are omitted here. Confirm against the vendor advisory before deciding you are unaffected.

How the severity score breaks down

Attack vector
LocalThe attacker needs local access or must trick a user into running something.
Attack complexity
LowNo special conditions are needed; the attack works reliably.
Privileges required
LowA basic user account is enough.
User interaction
NoneNo action by a victim is required.
Scope
UnchangedImpact stays within the vulnerable component.
Confidentiality
LowSome restricted data can be read.
Integrity
HighData or code can be modified at will.
Availability
HighThe component can be taken down completely.

Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:H/A:H. Scored by NVD.

Scoring systemScoreSeverityScored by
CVSS 3.18.0HighCNA (redhat.com)
CVSS 3.17.3HighNVD

Official description

A vulnerability was found in Unbound due to incorrect default permissions, allowing any process outside the unbound group to modify the unbound runtime configuration. If a process can connect over localhost to port 8953, it can alter the configuration of unbound.service. This flaw allows an unprivileged attacker to manipulate a running instance, potentially altering forwarders, allowing them to track all queries forwarded by the local resolver, and, in some cases, disrupting resolving altogether.

Source: the CVE record as published by its numbering authority, via NVD and CVE.org.

The underlying weakness: Incorrect Default Permissions

During installation, installed file permissions are set to allow anyone to modify those files.

How developers prevent this class of flaw

  • The architecture needs to access and modification attributes for files to only those users who actually require those actions.
  • Compartmentalize the system to have safe areas where trust boundaries can be unambiguously drawn. Do not allow sensitive data to go outside of the trust boundary and always be careful when interfacing with a compartment outside of the safe area. Ensure that appropriate compartmentalization is built into the system design, and the compartmentalization allows for and reinforces privilege separation functionality. Architects and designers should rely on the principle of least privilege to decide the appropriate time to use privileges and the time to drop privileges.

More Incorrect Default Permissions vulnerabilities (CWE-276)

Timeline

  1. CVE record published.
  2. CISA published its SSVC assessment (exploitation: none, automatable: no, technical impact: partial).
  3. Record last changed materially (score, affected products, status or references).

References

Patches and release notes

Other vulnerabilities in Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8

All Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8 vulnerabilities

Recent Incorrect Default Permissions vulnerabilities

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