CVE-2024-55566
📋 TL;DR
ColPack versions 1.0.10 through commit 9a7293a have a predictable temporary file vulnerability where temporary files are created in /tmp using unseeded random number generation, making their names predictable. This allows attackers to overwrite files or disrupt ColPack's graphing functionality for other users. Systems running vulnerable ColPack versions on multi-user Unix/Linux systems are affected.
💻 Affected Systems
- ColPack
⚠️ Manual Verification Required
This CVE does not have specific version information in our database, so automatic vulnerability detection cannot determine if your system is affected.
Why? The CVE database entry doesn't specify which versions are vulnerable (no version ranges provided by the vendor/NVD).
🔒 Custom verification scripts are available for registered users. Sign up free to download automated test scripts.
- Review the CVE details at NVD
- Check vendor security advisories for your specific version
- Test if the vulnerability is exploitable in your environment
- Consider updating to the latest version as a precaution
⚠️ Risk & Real-World Impact
Worst Case
An attacker could overwrite critical system files or other users' files in /tmp, potentially leading to denial of service, privilege escalation, or data corruption.
Likely Case
Temporary file collision causing ColPack graphing operations to fail for legitimate users, resulting in denial of service for graphing functionality.
If Mitigated
Minimal impact if proper file permissions and isolation are in place, though predictable filenames remain a security weakness.
🎯 Exploit Status
Exploitation requires local access to the system and knowledge of the predictable filename pattern. No authentication bypass needed as it's a local file system issue.
🛠️ Fix & Mitigation
✅ Official Fix
Patch Version: Not specified
Vendor Advisory: https://bugzilla.suse.com/show_bug.cgi?id=1225617
Restart Required: No
Instructions:
1. Check current ColPack version. 2. Monitor official ColPack repository for security updates. 3. Apply patches when available from upstream.
🔧 Temporary Workarounds
Use secure temporary directory
linuxSet TMPDIR environment variable to a user-specific directory with proper permissions
export TMPDIR=$HOME/.colpack_tmp
mkdir -p $TMPDIR
chmod 700 $TMPDIR
Implement file locking
allAdd file locking mechanisms to prevent concurrent access to temporary files
🧯 If You Can't Patch
- Restrict ColPack usage to single-user systems or isolated containers
- Implement strict file permissions on /tmp directory and monitor for suspicious file operations
🔍 How to Verify
Check if Vulnerable:
Check ColPack version and compare against affected range. Examine source code at src/Utilities/extra.cpp lines 184-190 for predictable temporary file generation.Check Version:
colpack --version or check build/installation metadataVerify Fix Applied:
Verify that temporary files now use properly seeded random names or are created in secure locations. Check for updated source code that addresses the unseeded RNG issue.📡 Detection & Monitoring
Log Indicators:
- Failed file operations in /tmp related to ColPack
- Permission denied errors for temporary files
- Unexpected file overwrites in /tmp directory
Network Indicators:
- None - this is a local file system vulnerability
SIEM Query:
Search for file creation/modification events in /tmp with predictable patterns matching ColPack's temporary file naming convention