Hacker News: Supply Chain Attacks on Linux Distributions – Fedora Pagure

Source URL: https://fenrisk.com/pagure
Source: Hacker News
Title: Supply Chain Attacks on Linux Distributions – Fedora Pagure

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Summary: The article highlights significant security vulnerabilities found in the Pagure software forge used by Fedora, detailing an argument injection flaw (CVE-2024-47516) that allows attackers to manipulate file outputs and potentially execute arbitrary code. The writer also discusses related vulnerabilities leading to remote code execution (RCE) and the migration from Pagure to Forgejo, emphasizing the importance of robust security practices in software development environments.

Detailed Description:
– **Main Vulnerability**: The article discusses an argument injection vulnerability in the Pagure software forge that permits file manipulation (CVE-2024-47516), leading to the possibility of remote code execution on any Pagure instance.
– **Related Vulnerabilities**: It mentions three additional vulnerabilities:
– **CVE-2024-4982**: A path traversal issue in view_issue_raw_file().
– **CVE-2024-4981**: A vulnerability in _update_file_in_git() where symbolic links in temporary clones are followed.
– **CVE-2024-47515**: Another issue with generate_archive() that follows symbolic links in temporary clones.
– **Exploitability**: The attacker can exploit these vulnerabilities without needing an authenticated account on Pagure, making them particularly dangerous. By manipulating file history, unauthorized users could potentially overwrite critical files or access malicious code within the repository.
– **Technical Insight**:
– **Injection Mechanism**: The vulnerability arises from the ability to pass arguments that manipulate the output of Git commands. The inclusion of command line options can lead to significant unintended consequences, such as unauthorized file creation or modification.
– **Execution Chain**: The article outlines how the injection can lead to the execution of arbitrary commands through misconfigured SSH settings and Python scripts linked to the Pagure application.
– **Security Improvements**: The author discloses that the vulnerabilities were reported to the maintainers and were patched promptly. However, it also reflects on the necessity for more profound fixes considering the systemic vulnerabilities due to reliance on external Git invocations.
– **Migration to Forgejo**: The piece concludes with a note on Fedora’s transition from Pagure to Forgejo, suggesting a move toward a more secure platform with community support, which could mitigate similar vulnerabilities in the future, thereby improving the security landscape for software supply chains.

This detailed analysis elucidates the critical aspects of security flaws in software tools used for version control and collaboration, thus serving as a vital resource for professionals in the fields of security and compliance focused on safeguarding infrastructure and applications against such vulnerabilities.