CAPEC-40: Manipulating Writeable Terminal Devices
Description
This attack exploits terminal devices that allow themselves to be written to by other users. The attacker sends command strings to the target terminal device hoping that the target user will hit enter and thereby execute the malicious command with their privileges. The attacker can send the results (such as copying /etc/passwd) to a known directory and collect once the attack has succeeded.
- Likelihood of attack
- High
- Typical severity
- Very High
- Abstraction
- StandardA specific methodology or technique used in an attack.
Mechanism of attack: Inject Unexpected Items
Prerequisites
- User terminals must have a permissive access control such as world writeable that allows normal users to control data on other user's terminals.
Skills required
- LowAbility to discover permissions on terminal devices. Of course, brute force can also be used.
Consequences
- ConfidentialityAccess ControlAuthorization
Gain Privileges
- Confidentiality
Read Data
- ConfidentialityIntegrityAvailability
Execute Unauthorized Commands
Run Arbitrary Code
Mitigations
- Design: Ensure that terminals are only writeable by named owner user and/or administrator
- Design: Enforce principle of least privilege