CWE-1249: Application-Level Admin Tool with Inconsistent View of Underlying Operating System

What is Application-Level Admin Tool with Inconsistent View of Underlying Operating System?

• Overview: This vulnerability occurs when an application used for managing the operating system does not accurately represent the state of the OS, leading to inconsistencies, such as missing user accounts in the administrative tool that exist in the OS.

• Exploitation Methods:

• Attackers can exploit this by inserting unauthorized accounts that are invisible to the admin tool.
• Common attack patterns include command injection to add ghost accounts and leveraging APIs to manipulate user records.

• Security Impact:

• Direct consequences include undetected unauthorized access and control over the OS.
• Potential cascading effects involve further exploitation through compromised accounts for additional attacks.
• Business impact could include data breaches, loss of system integrity, and damaged reputation.

• Prevention Guidelines:

• Ensure the admin tool regularly updates its state by syncing with the OS to reflect accurate data.
• Implement thorough logging and monitoring of all account changes directly on the OS and management tool.
• Use security best practices such as least privilege, secure coding standards, and regular security audits.
• Employ recommended tools and frameworks for user management that ensure consistency and integrity between interfaces and the OS.

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Technical Details

Likelihood of Exploit: Not specified

Affected Languages: Not Language-Specific

Affected Technologies: Web Based

Vulnerable Code Example

Python Example

import os

def list_users():
    # This function relies on a static list of users
    # It does not reflect the actual users in the OS
    users = ["admin", "user1", "user2"]
    print("Current users:", users)

def grant_admin_privileges(user):
    # Granting admin privileges based on a static list can be risky
    if user in ["admin", "user1", "user2"]:
        print(f"Granting admin privileges to {user}")
    else:
        print(f"User {user} not found!")

Explanation:

• Static User List: The code uses a hardcoded list of users, which may not match the actual users on the system. This can lead to security issues where the application has an incorrect view of user accounts.
• Security Risk: Granting privileges based on this static list can result in unauthorized access if the list is outdated or incorrect.

How to fix Application-Level Admin Tool with Inconsistent View of Underlying Operating System?

Fixed Code Example

import os
import subprocess

def list_users():
    # Dynamically fetch users from the OS
    try:
        # Using 'getent passwd' is a Unix-specific way to list users
        result = subprocess.check_output("getent passwd", shell=True, text=True)
        users = [line.split(":")[0] for line in result.splitlines()]
        print("Current users:", users)
    except subprocess.CalledProcessError as e:
        print(f"Error retrieving users from the OS: {e}")

def grant_admin_privileges(user):
    # Dynamically check if the user exists in the OS
    try:
        result = subprocess.check_output("getent passwd", shell=True, text=True)
        users = [line.split(":")[0] for line in result.splitlines()]
        
        if user in users:
            print(f"Granting admin privileges to {user}")
        else:
            print(f"User {user} not found!")
    except subprocess.CalledProcessError as e:
        print(f"Error retrieving users from the OS: {e}")

Explanation:

• Dynamic User Retrieval: The subprocess module is used to execute a command to fetch the current list of users from the OS, ensuring the list is always up-to-date.
• Error Handling: The try-except block captures errors during command execution, providing feedback on failures.
• Security Controls: Ensure the application is executed with appropriate permissions to access user information securely. The shell=True usage is safe here because the command is constant and does not incorporate user input.