Monday, November 25, 2024
HomeSecurity NewsHackers Can Abuse Plugins for Popular Unix Text Editors to Escalate Privileges

Hackers Can Abuse Plugins for Popular Unix Text Editors to Escalate Privileges

Published on

Advanced Unix Text Editors offers extensibility by allowing users to install third-party plugins for ease of use and to enhance the Text Editors functionalities.

Server administrators often run text editors with elevated privileges “sudo gedit” to edit root-owned configuration files. If the text editor contains vulnerable third-party plugin it enlarges attack surface.

A vulnerable third-party text editor plugin could be abused by attackers to escalate the privileges of your system/server.

- Advertisement - SIEM as a Service

Also Read Top 5 Best Text Editors For Linux

According to recent safebreach research, “they found the inadequate separation of regular and elevated modes. Folder permissions integrity is not maintained and that opens the door for an attacker with regular user permissions to get the elevated execution of arbitrary code and to gain privilege escalation on the machine“.

Researchers tested the attacks the well known highly-ranked text editors Sublime, Vim, Emacs, Gedit, pico/nano. They have published a research paper with examples.

Here is the scenario “Imagine that an attacker can run the arbitrary code as a sudoer but not elevated, all he needs is to write the malicious plugin in user folder that uses the text editor and wait for the execution of plugin in elevated status”.

The vulnerability has been notified by researchers to vendors and it still remain’s unpatched. Researchers suggested monitoring modifications to the key files and folders presented by adding OSSEC rules.

Also Read Most Important Computer Forensics Tools for Hackers and Security Professionals

Below is the list of mitigations suggested – Unix Text Editors

  • Implement OSEC monitoring rules.
  • Deny write permissions for non-elevated users.
  • Change folders and file permission models to ensure separation between regular and elevated modes.
  • Prevent loading of 3rd party plugins when an editor is elevated.
  • Provide a manual interface to approve the elevated loading of plugins.
Gurubaran
Gurubaran
Gurubaran is a co-founder of Cyber Security News and GBHackers On Security. He has 10+ years of experience as a Security Consultant, Editor, and Analyst in cybersecurity, technology, and communications.

Latest articles

Threat Actors Exploit Google Docs And Weebly Services For Malware Attacks

Phishing attackers used Google Docs to deliver malicious links, bypassing security measures and redirecting...

Python NodeStealer: Targeting Facebook Business Accounts to Harvest Login Credentials

The Python-based NodeStealer, a sophisticated info-stealer, has evolved to target new information and employ...

XSS Vulnerability in Bing.com Let Attackers Send Crafted Malicious Requests

A significant XSS vulnerability was recently uncovered in Microsoft’s Bing.com, potentially allowing attackers to...

Meta Removed 2 Million Account Linked to Malicious Activities

 Meta has announced the removal of over 2 million accounts connected to malicious activities,...

Free Webinar

Protect Websites & APIs from Malware Attack

Malware targeting customer-facing websites and API applications poses significant risks, including compliance violations, defacements, and even blacklisting.

Join us for an insightful webinar featuring Vivek Gopalan, VP of Products at Indusface, as he shares effective strategies for safeguarding websites and APIs against malware.

Discussion points

Scan DOM, internal links, and JavaScript libraries for hidden malware.
Detect website defacements in real time.
Protect your brand by monitoring for potential blacklisting.
Prevent malware from infiltrating your server and cloud infrastructure.

More like this

Nearest Neighbor Attacks: Russian APT Hack The Target By Exploiting Nearby Wi-Fi Networks

Recent research has revealed that a Russian advanced persistent threat (APT) group, tracked as...

Critical PDF.js & React-PDF Vulnerabilities Threaten Millions Of PDF Users

A new critical vulnerability has been discovered in PDF.js, which could allow a threat...

LayerX Security Raises $26M for its Browser Security Platform, Enabling Employees to Work Securely From Any Browser, Anywhere

LayerX, pioneer of the LayerX Browser Security platform, today announced $24 million in Series...