CVE-2011-3871: Puppet Puppet Uses Predictable Filenames, Allowing Vulnerability

MODERATE
Advisory Identifier: GHSA-mpmx-gm5v-q789
Share
CWE-340
Published
Advisory Summary

CVE-2011-3871 is a MODERATE puppet uses predictable filenames, allowing vulnerability (CWE-340: Generation of Predictable Numbers or Identifiers) affecting Puppet libraries in the RubyGems ecosystem. The issue involves puppet uses predictable filenames, allowing arbitrary file overwrite. Remediation is available by upgrading affected packages to version 2.7.5, 2.6.11.

CVE-2011-3871 at a Glance

CVE Identifier CVE-2011-3871
GHSA Identifier GHSA-mpmx-gm5v-q789
Severity MODERATE
CVSS v3.1 Base Score N/A
CWE Classification CWE-340: Generation of Predictable Numbers or Identifiers
Affected Product Puppet
Package Ecosystem RubyGems
Published Date
Last Updated

How to Fix CVE-2011-3871

To remediate this vulnerability, upgrade all affected Puppet dependencies to a patched release. Both direct and transitive dependencies should be checked, as frameworks or security libraries may pull in vulnerable versions transitively.

puppet fixed: 2.7.5 
Upgrade puppet to 2.7.5
puppet fixed: 2.6.11 
Upgrade puppet to 2.6.11
Verify Direct and Transitive Dependencies

Run the following command in your project directory to verify that all resolved dependencies use the patched release: 

inspect dependencies for puppet

How to Check if You Are Affected

To determine whether your application is affected by CVE-2011-3871, inspect your project dependencies for Puppet:

inspect dependencies for puppet

Analyze the terminal output to locate any version of Puppet in your dependency tree. If any resolved version matches the vulnerable ranges listed in the table below (for example, versions earlier than 2.7.5), your application is affected.

Note: Verify declared build manifests and deployed runtime container environments.

Technical Details

Vulnerability Mechanism & Technical Analysis

This vulnerability is classified under CWE-340: Generation of Predictable Numbers or Identifiers, where the product uses a scheme that generates numbers or identifiers that are more predictable than required. In Puppet, software state validation or input boundaries are circumvented during processing. Review the official source advisory statement below for specific affected components, classes, and reproduction details.

Source Advisory Statement

Puppet 2.7.x before 2.7.5, 2.6.x before 2.6.11, and 0.25.x, when running in `--edit` mode, uses a predictable file name, which allows local users to run arbitrary Puppet code or trick a user into editing arbitrary files.

CVE-2011-3871 Affected Puppet Versions

2 component(s)
Fixed Versions:
2.7.52.6.11
Product / Package Ecosystem Affected Versions Fixed Version
puppet
gem/puppet
RubyGems
≥ 2.7.0
< 2.7.5
2.7.5
puppet
gem/puppet
RubyGems
< 2.6.11
2.6.11

References

NVD — CVE-2011-3871 NVD
https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2011-3871
Security Fix Commit FIX COMMIT
https://github.com/puppetlabs/puppet/commit/343c7bd381b63e042d437111718918f951d9b30d
Security Fix Commit FIX COMMIT
https://github.com/puppetlabs/puppet/commit/d76c30935460ded953792dfe49f72b8c5158e899
Puppet Source Repository REPOSITORY
https://github.com/puppetlabs/puppet
Puppet Source Repository REPOSITORY
https://github.com/rubysec/ruby-advisory-db/blob/master/gems/puppet/CVE-2011-3871.yml
Puppet Security Information SECURITY
https://puppet.com/security/cve/cve-2011-3871
groups.google.com/group/puppet-announ... WEB
http://groups.google.com/group/puppet-announce/browse_thread/thread/91e3b46d2328a1cb
lists.fedoraproject.org/pipermail/package-a... WEB
http://lists.fedoraproject.org/pipermail/package-announce/2011-October/068053.html
lists.fedoraproject.org/pipermail/package-a... WEB
http://lists.fedoraproject.org/pipermail/package-announce/2011-October/068061.html
lists.fedoraproject.org/pipermail/package-a... WEB
http://lists.fedoraproject.org/pipermail/package-announce/2011-October/068093.html
Puppet Security Information SECURITY
http://www.debian.org/security/2011/dsa-2314
www.ubuntu.com/usn/usn-1223-1 WEB
http://www.ubuntu.com/usn/USN-1223-1
www.ubuntu.com/usn/usn-1223-2 WEB
http://www.ubuntu.com/usn/USN-1223-2

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2011-3871?
CVE-2011-3871 is a security vulnerability in Puppet involving Puppet uses predictable filenames, allowing arbitrary file overwrite under CWE-340: Generation of Predictable Numbers or Identifiers.
Which Puppet versions are affected?
Affected versions include releases prior to 2.7.5, 2.6.11 across affected packages: puppet.
What version fixes CVE-2011-3871?
Upgrading to 2.7.5, 2.6.11 (or the latest patched release for your respective branch) resolves the vulnerability.
Is puppet affected?
Yes, puppet is affected in releases prior to 2.7.5, 2.6.11. Upgrade your dependency to 2.7.5, 2.6.11 or later.
What CWE is associated with CVE-2011-3871?
CVE-2011-3871 is classified under CWE-340: Generation of Predictable Numbers or Identifiers (The product uses a scheme that generates numbers or identifiers that are more predictable than required.).
How can I check RubyGems dependencies for CVE-2011-3871?
Run the dependency tree command: 'inspect dependencies for puppet'. This command lists direct and transitive dependencies in your build configuration so you can verify if a vulnerable version is resolved.
Machine-readable OSV JSON OSV v1.5 Schema
Normalized schema output
View Raw JSON 
{
  "schema_version" : "1.4.0",
  "id" : "GHSA-mpmx-gm5v-q789",
  "modified" : "2024-01-16T21:26:49Z",
  "published" : "2022-05-14T00:56:55Z",
  "aliases" : [ "CVE-2011-3871" ],
  "summary" : "Puppet uses predictable filenames, allowing arbitrary file overwrite",
  "details" : "Puppet 2.7.x before 2.7.5, 2.6.x before 2.6.11, and 0.25.x, when running in `--edit` mode, uses a predictable file name, which allows local users to run arbitrary Puppet code or trick a user into editing arbitrary files.",
  "severity" : [ ],
  "affected" : [ {
    "package" : {
      "ecosystem" : "RubyGems",
      "name" : "puppet"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
        "introduced" : "2.7.0"
      }, {
        "fixed" : "2.7.5"
      } ]
    } ]
  }, {
    "package" : {
      "ecosystem" : "RubyGems",
      "name" : "puppet"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
        "introduced" : "0"
      }, {
        "fixed" : "2.6.11"
      } ]
    } ]
  } ],
  "references" : [ {
    "type" : "ADVISORY",
    "url" : "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2011-3871"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/puppetlabs/puppet/commit/343c7bd381b63e042d437111718918f951d9b30d"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/puppetlabs/puppet/commit/d76c30935460ded953792dfe49f72b8c5158e899"
  }, {
    "type" : "PACKAGE",
    "url" : "https://github.com/puppetlabs/puppet"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/rubysec/ruby-advisory-db/blob/master/gems/puppet/CVE-2011-3871.yml"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://puppet.com/security/cve/cve-2011-3871"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "http://groups.google.com/group/puppet-announce/browse_thread/thread/91e3b46d2328a1cb"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "http://lists.fedoraproject.org/pipermail/package-announce/2011-October/068053.html"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "http://lists.fedoraproject.org/pipermail/package-announce/2011-October/068061.html"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "http://lists.fedoraproject.org/pipermail/package-announce/2011-October/068093.html"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "http://www.debian.org/security/2011/dsa-2314"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "http://www.ubuntu.com/usn/USN-1223-1"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "http://www.ubuntu.com/usn/USN-1223-2"
  } ],
  "database_specific" : {
    "cwe_ids" : [ "CWE-340" ],
    "severity" : "MODERATE",
    "github_reviewed" : true,
    "github_reviewed_at" : "2024-01-16T21:26:49Z",
    "nvd_published_at" : "2011-10-27T20:55:00Z"
  }
}