CVE-2025-1390 is a medium-severity vulnerability affecting the PAM module pam_cap.so of the libcap configuration. It allows for incorrect recognition of group names, potentially granting unintended users an inherited capability set. This misconfiguration may lead to security risks as attackers can exploit this vulnerability for local privilege escalation on systems where /etc/security/capability.conf is employed to configure user inherited privileges.
The vulnerability, assigned a CVSS score of 6.1, is categorized as medium severity. This classification is critical for organizations as it indicates the potential for significant risk to systems. The exploitation status is confirmed, necessitating immediate attention from security teams to mitigate the associated risks.
Organizations should prioritize patching immediately. The urgency stems from the fact that privilege escalation vulnerabilities can allow unauthorized users to gain elevated access, compromising system integrity.
Given the nature of this vulnerability, organizations utilizing systems that implement libcap must assess their configurations and ensure that they are not susceptible to these misconfigurations.
If you rely on /etc/security/capability.conf for user privilege management, ensure to validate your configurations to prevent unauthorized access.
Vulnerability Details
The official description states that the PAM module pam_cap.so of libcap configuration supports group names starting with “@”, but during parsing, configurations not starting with “@” are incorrectly recognized as group names. This misrecognition can lead to unintended users obtaining an inherited capability set.
The vulnerability is categorized under CWE-284, which pertains to improper access control. The CVSS score of 6.1 indicates a medium severity level, highlighting the importance for organizations to address this issue promptly.
The vulnerability was published on February 18, 2025, and has been marked with a deferred status. This status suggests that while the vulnerability is recognized, further investigation or action might be pending.
Technical Analysis
The root cause of CVE-2025-1390 is linked to the PAM module pam_cap.so's handling of group names during configuration parsing. The attack vector is local, meaning an attacker needs to have access to the system to exploit this vulnerability. The attack complexity is low, requiring minimal effort to exploit once access is gained.
Privileges required for exploitation are considered low, as the vulnerability can be exploited by users with limited access rights. User interaction is not required, making this vulnerability particularly insidious.
The impact on confidentiality is low, while the impact on integrity is high. This underscores the potential for unauthorized modifications to user privileges, which could lead to further system compromises. There is no impact on availability.
Risk & Impact Analysis
Risk to organizations includes the possibility of unauthorized privilege escalation, which can allow attackers to gain elevated rights and access sensitive system resources. The vulnerability affects any system utilizing the PAM module pam_cap.so, particularly those managing user privileges through /etc/security/capability.conf.
The potential blast radius could be significant, especially in environments where privilege escalation can lead to lateral movement within networks. Organizations must assess their risk exposure and prioritize patching this vulnerability.
Based on the CVSS score and the current threat landscape, organizations should address this vulnerability in their priority patch cycle. Immediate remediation is essential to mitigate potential risks.
Exploitation Status
Signal | Status |
|---|---|
Known Exploit | Yes |
Public PoC | Yes |
Actively Exploited | No |
Ransomware Use | No |
Affected Versions
All versions prior to vendor patch are affected by this vulnerability. Organizations should verify their systems to ensure they are not running vulnerable versions of libcap.
Mitigation & Remediation
To mitigate CVE-2025-1390, organizations should apply the latest patches provided by the vendor. If a patch is unavailable, review and harden configurations to ensure that group names are correctly recognized and do not inadvertently grant privileges.
For further assistance on security testing strategies, organizations may consider engaging with professionals through penetration testing services.
Detection Guidance
Organizations should monitor logs for unusual access patterns or privilege grants that may indicate exploitation attempts. Additionally, system changes related to user privilege configurations should be closely observed.
AppSecure Threat Intelligence Insight
The long-term significance of CVE-2025-1390 lies in its potential to expose systems to unauthorized privilege escalation attacks. This vulnerability aligns with a trend of misconfigurations leading to security breaches.
Security teams should consider implementing comprehensive configuration management processes to minimize risks associated with incorrect privilege assignments.
For further reading on privilege escalation vulnerabilities, organizations can refer to this blog and consider enhancing their vulnerability management program as described in this article. Lastly, adopting a proactive approach through penetration testing methodologies can further strengthen defenses against similar vulnerabilities.
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
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