CVE-2024-6655 Overview
A security flaw was discovered in the GTK library that allows for library injection under certain conditions. This vulnerability enables an attacker to inject a malicious library into a GTK application from the current working directory, potentially leading to arbitrary code execution within the context of the vulnerable application.
Critical Impact
This library injection vulnerability could allow local attackers to execute arbitrary code by placing a malicious library in the current working directory of a GTK application, potentially compromising system integrity and confidentiality.
Affected Products
- GTK Library (versions prior to security patches)
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux systems with affected GTK packages
- Linux distributions utilizing vulnerable GTK library versions
Discovery Timeline
- July 16, 2024 - CVE-2024-6655 published to NVD
- March 14, 2025 - Last updated in NVD database
Technical Details for CVE-2024-6655
Vulnerability Analysis
The vulnerability stems from improper handling of library loading paths in the GTK library. Under specific conditions, GTK applications may inadvertently search for and load shared libraries from the current working directory (CWD). This behavior creates a code injection opportunity where an attacker with write access to a directory from which a GTK application is launched can place a specially crafted malicious library that will be loaded and executed within the application's context.
This type of vulnerability, classified under CWE-94 (Improper Control of Generation of Code - Code Injection), is particularly dangerous because it can bypass traditional security controls and execute with the privileges of the targeted application.
Root Cause
The root cause of this vulnerability is the improper sanitization of library search paths within the GTK library. The library loading mechanism fails to adequately restrict the directories from which dynamic libraries can be loaded, allowing the current working directory to be included in the search path. This oversight enables library preloading attacks where a malicious library can be loaded before the legitimate system library.
Attack Vector
The attack requires local access to the system and involves placing a malicious shared library (.so file) in a directory where a user might launch a GTK application. The attack scenario typically involves:
- An attacker identifying directories commonly used to run GTK applications
- Placing a malicious library with a name that will be searched for by the GTK application
- Waiting for or inducing a user to execute a GTK application from that directory
- The malicious library is loaded and executed with the application's privileges
This attack requires user interaction (launching the application) and has high complexity due to the specific conditions required for exploitation. However, successful exploitation results in high impact to confidentiality, integrity, and availability.
Detection Methods for CVE-2024-6655
Indicators of Compromise
- Unexpected shared library files (.so files) appearing in user-writable directories
- GTK applications loading libraries from non-standard paths such as the current working directory
- Unusual process behavior following GTK application launches from user directories
- File system monitoring alerts for library file creation in user home or temp directories
Detection Strategies
- Monitor library loading behavior using tools like strace or ltrace to identify libraries being loaded from unexpected paths
- Implement file integrity monitoring (FIM) on directories commonly used to launch applications
- Configure audit rules to track library file creation events in user-accessible directories
- Deploy endpoint detection solutions that can identify suspicious library injection patterns
Monitoring Recommendations
- Enable detailed audit logging for library loading operations on Linux systems
- Configure SIEM rules to alert on GTK applications loading libraries from current working directories
- Implement regular scans of user-writable directories for suspicious shared library files
- Monitor for unusual execution patterns in GTK-based applications
How to Mitigate CVE-2024-6655
Immediate Actions Required
- Apply security patches from your Linux distribution vendor immediately
- For Red Hat systems, apply updates from RHSA-2024:6963 and RHSA-2024:9184
- Audit user-writable directories for suspicious shared library files
- Restrict write permissions on directories where GTK applications are commonly launched
Patch Information
Red Hat has released security errata addressing this vulnerability. System administrators should update affected packages using their distribution's package manager. For Red Hat Enterprise Linux systems, the following advisories contain the necessary patches:
The upstream fix can be reviewed in the GNOME GTK merge request #7361.
Workarounds
- Avoid launching GTK applications from untrusted or user-writable directories
- Set the LD_LIBRARY_PATH environment variable explicitly to trusted library paths before running GTK applications
- Configure the system to use RUNPATH or RPATH settings that exclude the current working directory
- Implement directory permission restrictions to prevent unauthorized file creation in common application launch directories
# Verify installed GTK packages and check for updates
rpm -qa | grep gtk
# Apply security updates on Red Hat-based systems
sudo dnf update gtk3 gtk4
# Check library loading behavior of a GTK application
LD_DEBUG=libs your_gtk_application 2>&1 | grep "search path"
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
