MPSB04-03 Potential Security Risk with Macromedia E-Licensing Client Activation Code
Originally posted: March 12, 2004
Last updated: March 12, 2004
Summary
Macintosh versions of the Macromedia installers and e-licensing client install a service whose file permissions allow "other" users to write to the file. This may allow one local user to obtain the permissions of another local user (including an admin user). This leads to a threat typically classified as "Privilege Escalation."
This potential vulnerability only affects products installed on machines
with multiple users. Further, it does not appear to be a threat under
typical installation of Macromedia products where the computer’s only
user is already considered the administrator.
Solution
A patch can be downloaded from the Macromedia website to protect users of current versions of Macromedia products.
http://www.macromedia.com/support/service/ts/documents/activation_loop.htm
Alternatively, a work-around is described in the "Making the changes" section of this bulletin.
Affected Software Versions
All supported Macintosh versions of Macromedia MX 2004 products as well as Contribute 2 may be affected.
Severity Rating
Macromedia categorizes this issue as a Moderate update
and recommends that administrators of systems supporting multiple users
apply the
patch located here.
Details
Macintosh OS X versions of the Macromedia installers and e-licensing client install the 'AuthenticationService' as an SUID service whose file permissions allow "other" users to write to the file. By default, these permissions allow the code in the service to be changed by any local user. In the event of modification by any non-admin user, the operating system removes the SUID property.
The current behavior of Macromedia products using this service mitigates all known attack vectors. All current Macromedia products detect the file change, refuse to execute the modified service, and re-install the original, unmodified binary. Therefore, a successful exploitation requires the attacker to cause another user to execute the service independent of any Macromedia product.
If the AuthenticationService file is manually deleted, a re-application of the patch may be required.
Making the Changes
With an admin account and password, permissions on the file can be manually changed to resolve this problem.
Activate a Terminal session and type in the following command.
sudo chmod 4775 "/Library/Application Support/Macrovision/AuthenticationService"
Enter your admin user password at the prompt and then the command will run and set the permissions on the file.
NOTE: Back up your existing files before making changes. As always, test the changes in a non-production environment before applying the changes to production servers.
Acknowledgements
Macromedia would like to thank Chris Irvine of Dark Horse Comics, Inc. for reporting this vulnerability and for working with us to help protect our customers' security.
Revisions
March 12, 2004—Bulletin first created.
Reporting Security Issues
Macromedia is committed to addressing security issues and providing customers with the information on how they can protect themselves. If you identify what you believe may be a security issue with a Macromedia product, please send an email to secure@macromedia.com. We will work to appropriately address and communicate the issue.
Receiving Security Bulletins
When Macromedia becomes aware of a security issue that we believe significantly affects our products or customers, we will notify customers when appropriate. Typically this notification will be in the form of a security bulletin explaining the issue and the response. Macromedia customers who would like to receive notification of new security bulletins when they are released can sign up for our security notification service.
For additional information on security issues at Macromedia, please visit: http://www.macromedia.com/security.
ANY INFORMATION, PATCHES, DOWNLOADS, WORKAROUNDS OR FIXES PROVIDED BY MACROMEDIA IN THIS BULLETIN ARE PROVIDED "AS IS" WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND. MACROMEDIA AND ITS SUPPLIERS DISCLAIM ALL WARRANTIES, WHETHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED OR OTHERWISE, INCLUDING THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. ALSO, THERE IS NO WARRANTY OF NON-INFRINGEMENT, TITLE OR QUIET ENJOYMENT. (USA ONLY) SOME STATES DO NOT ALLOW THE EXCLUSION OF IMPLIED WARRANTIES, SO THE ABOVE EXCLUSION MAY NOT APPLY TO YOU.
IN NO EVENT SHALL MACROMEDIA, INC. OR ITS SUPPLIERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY DAMAGES WHATSOEVER INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, SPECIAL, PUNITIVE, COVER, LOSS OF PROFITS, BUSINESS INTERRUPTION OR THE LIKE, OR LOSS OF BUSINESS DAMAGES, BASED ON ANY THEORY OF LIABILITY INCLUDING BREACH OF CONTRACT, BREACH OF WARRANTY, TORT(INCLUDING NEGLIGENCE), PRODUCT LIABILITY OR OTHERWISE, EVEN IF MACROMEDIA, INC. OR ITS SUPPLIERS OR THEIR REPRESENTATIVES HAVE BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES. (USA ONLY) SOME STATES DO NOT ALLOW THE EXCLUSION OR LIMITATION OF LIABILITY FOR CONSEQUENTIAL OR INCIDENTAL DAMAGES, SO THE ABOVE EXCLUSION OR LIMITATION MAY NOT APPLY TO YOU AND YOU MAY ALSO HAVE OTHER LEGAL RIGHTS THAT VARY FROM STATE TO STATE.
Macromedia reserves the right, from time to time, to update the information in this document with current information.
