CVE-2023-1326 is identified as a high-severity privilege escalation vulnerability found in Canonical's apport-cli version 2.26.0 and earlier. This vulnerability allows local attackers, under specific conditions, to escalate their privileges. Specifically, if a system is configured to permit unprivileged users to run sudo apport-cli, and if less is set as the pager, an attacker can manipulate terminal settings to gain elevated privileges. While the configuration allowing such access is extremely unlikely, the potential for exploitation necessitates immediate attention.
The CVSS score for this vulnerability is 7.7, indicating a high severity level. This score reflects the local attack vector and low attack complexity, as well as the requirement for high privileges and user interaction. Organizations using the affected versions are at risk of significant impacts, including unauthorized access to sensitive data and disruption of services.
Given its potential impact, organizations should prioritize patching immediately. The vulnerability was first published on April 13, 2023, and has since been modified. It is crucial for administrators to assess their systems for the presence of this vulnerability and apply necessary updates to mitigate risks.
As of now, there are no known exploits in the wild for CVE-2023-1326, but the attack vector remains a concern for security teams. Therefore, proactive measures should be undertaken to ensure that systems are hardened against potential exploitation.
Vulnerability Details
This vulnerability allows a local attacker to escalate privileges on systems running Canonical's apport versions 2.26.0 and earlier. The official CVE description states: 'A privilege escalation attack was found in apport-cli 2.26.0 and earlier which is similar to CVE-2023-26604. If a system is specially configured to allow unprivileged users to run sudo apport-cli, less is configured as the pager, and the terminal size can be set: a local attacker can escalate privilege.' The CVSS score of 7.7 highlights the seriousness of this vulnerability, which poses risks to confidentiality, integrity, and availability.
The affected products include apport and Ubuntu Linux across various versions, including 18.04, 20.04, 22.04, and 22.10. The vulnerability has been classified under CWE-269, related to privilege escalation.
Technical Analysis
The root cause of CVE-2023-1326 lies in the configuration settings that allow unprivileged users to execute sudo commands using apport-cli. The attack vector is local, meaning that an attacker must have physical or remote access to the system. The attack complexity is low, as it does not require advanced skills or extensive knowledge to exploit. Privileges required are high, indicating that an attacker must already possess certain user rights to execute the command.
User interaction is required, as the attacker must manipulate the terminal settings to successfully escalate privileges. The confidentiality, integrity, and availability impacts are all rated as high, meaning that successful exploitation could compromise sensitive data, alter system configurations, or disrupt service availability.
Risk & Impact Analysis
Risk to organizations includes potential unauthorized access to sensitive systems and data, which could lead to data breaches or service disruptions. The likelihood of an attacker being able to leverage this vulnerability is contingent on the specific system configurations employed. Given the high CVSS score, organizations should address this vulnerability in their priority patch cycle to mitigate risks.
The urgency for remediation is classified as high, considering the potential impact on organizational security. Organizations running affected versions must assess their risk posture and implement necessary patches promptly to prevent exploitation.
Exploitation Status
Signal | Status |
|---|---|
Known Exploit | No |
Public PoC | No |
Actively Exploited | No |
Ransomware Use | No |
Affected Versions
CVE-2023-1326 affects Canonical's apport versions up to and including 2.26.0. It also impacts Ubuntu Linux distributions including 18.04 LTS, 20.04 LTS, 22.04 LTS, and 22.10.
Mitigation & Remediation
Organizations should prioritize patching immediately to mitigate this vulnerability. Upgrading to a version of apport that is higher than 2.26.0 will address the issue. For those unable to apply the patch, it is advisable to restrict sudo access or reconfigure the terminal settings to prevent unauthorized privilege escalation.
Further, organizations should consider implementing security practices such as configuration hardening, user access controls, and continuous monitoring to detect any unauthorized access attempts.
Conducting regular penetration testing can also help identify potential vulnerabilities before they can be exploited.
Detection Guidance
Monitoring logs for specific indicators of compromise, such as unusual sudo command usage or unauthorized access attempts, is crucial for detecting exploitation of this vulnerability. Additionally, security teams should be on the lookout for behavioral anomalies that may indicate privilege escalation.
AppSecure Threat Intelligence Insight
CVE-2023-1326 represents a significant risk for systems configured inappropriately, highlighting the importance of securing sudo configurations and user permissions.
Security teams should learn from this vulnerability by reviewing their access control policies and ensuring that users have the least privileges necessary to perform their roles. Regular audits of permissions and system configurations can help prevent similar vulnerabilities.
Understanding privilege escalation vulnerabilities is essential for creating a robust security posture within organizations.
Establishing a comprehensive vulnerability management program can aid in identifying and addressing such risks effectively.
Regular penetration testing can also help organizations assess their security posture against potential threats.
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
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