CVE-2011-3870: Puppet Puppet Allows Local Users To Vulnerability

MODERATE
Advisory Identifier: GHSA-qh3g-27jf-3j54
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CWE-59
Published
Advisory Summary

CVE-2011-3870 is a MODERATE puppet allows local users to vulnerability (CWE-59: Improper Link Resolution Before File Access ('Link Following')) affecting Puppet libraries in the RubyGems ecosystem. The issue involves puppet allows local users to modify the permissions of arbitrary files. Remediation is available by upgrading affected packages to version 2.7.5, 2.6.11.

CVE-2011-3870 at a Glance

CVE Identifier CVE-2011-3870
GHSA Identifier GHSA-qh3g-27jf-3j54
Severity MODERATE
CVSS v3.1 Base Score N/A
CWE Classification CWE-59: Improper Link Resolution Before File Access ('Link Following')
Affected Product Puppet
Package Ecosystem RubyGems
Published Date
Last Updated

How to Fix CVE-2011-3870

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-2011-3870, 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-59: Improper Link Resolution Before File Access ('Link Following'), where the product attempts to access a file based on the filename, but it does not properly prevent that filename from identifying a link or shortcut that resolves to an unintended resource. 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 allows local users to modify the permissions of arbitrary files via a symlink attack on the SSH authorized_keys file.

CVE-2011-3870 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-2011-3870 NVD
https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2011-3870
Security Fix Commit FIX COMMIT
https://github.com/puppetlabs/puppet/commit/88512e880bd2a03694b5fef42540dc7b3da05d30
Security Fix Commit FIX COMMIT
https://github.com/puppetlabs/puppet/commit/b29b1785d543a3cea961fffa9b3c15f14ab7cce0
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-2011-3870.yml
Puppet Security Information SECURITY
https://puppet.com/security/cve/cve-2011-3870
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-2011-3870?
CVE-2011-3870 is a security vulnerability in Puppet involving Puppet allows local users to modify the permissions of arbitrary files under CWE-59: Improper Link Resolution Before File Access ('Link Following').
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-2011-3870?
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-2011-3870?
CVE-2011-3870 is classified under CWE-59: Improper Link Resolution Before File Access ('Link Following') (The product attempts to access a file based on the filename, but it does not properly prevent that filename from identifying a link or shortcut that resolves to an unintended resource.).
How can I check RubyGems dependencies for CVE-2011-3870?
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-qh3g-27jf-3j54",
  "modified" : "2024-01-16T21:28:46Z",
  "published" : "2022-05-14T00:56:54Z",
  "aliases" : [ "CVE-2011-3870" ],
  "summary" : "Puppet allows local users to modify the permissions of arbitrary files",
  "details" : "Puppet 2.7.x before 2.7.5, 2.6.x before 2.6.11, and 0.25.x allows local users to modify the permissions of arbitrary files via a symlink attack on the SSH authorized_keys file.",
  "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-2011-3870"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/puppetlabs/puppet/commit/88512e880bd2a03694b5fef42540dc7b3da05d30"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/puppetlabs/puppet/commit/b29b1785d543a3cea961fffa9b3c15f14ab7cce0"
  }, {
    "type" : "PACKAGE",
    "url" : "https://github.com/puppetlabs/puppet"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/rubysec/ruby-advisory-db/blob/master/gems/puppet/CVE-2011-3870.yml"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://puppet.com/security/cve/cve-2011-3870"
  }, {
    "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-59" ],
    "severity" : "MODERATE",
    "github_reviewed" : true,
    "github_reviewed_at" : "2024-01-16T21:28:46Z",
    "nvd_published_at" : "2011-10-27T20:55:00Z"
  }
}