CVE-2004-0887 in Linux
Summary
by MITRE
suse linux enterprise server 9 on the s/390 platform does not properly handle a certain privileged instruction which allows local users to gain root privileges.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/02/2019
The vulnerability described in CVE-2004-0887 represents a critical privilege escalation flaw within SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 9 running on IBM s/390 platform architectures. This issue stems from improper handling of specific privileged instructions that are typically reserved for kernel-level operations. The flaw exists in the kernel's instruction processing mechanisms where certain privileged operations are not adequately validated or restricted, creating an exploitable condition that allows local authenticated users to elevate their privileges to root level. The s/390 architecture, being a mainframe platform, has specific instruction sets and privilege levels that differ significantly from standard x86 architectures, making this vulnerability particularly concerning for enterprise environments relying on IBM mainframe systems.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves a specific privileged instruction that should only be executable by the kernel or other privileged components. However, the kernel implementation fails to properly validate or restrict access to this instruction when invoked by user-space processes. When a local user executes code that triggers this particular instruction, the system does not properly enforce the privilege boundaries that should normally prevent user-level code from executing kernel-level operations. This misconfiguration allows the instruction to be executed in a privileged context, effectively bypassing normal access controls and privilege separation mechanisms that are fundamental to operating system security. The flaw operates at the kernel level and leverages the architecture's privilege escalation mechanisms in an unintended manner.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability poses significant risks to organizations running SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 9 on s/390 platforms, particularly those in financial services, government, or other mission-critical sectors where mainframe systems are prevalent. The local privilege escalation capability means that any user with access to the system can potentially gain full administrative control, which could lead to complete system compromise, data exfiltration, or disruption of critical services. The impact extends beyond individual system compromise as attackers could use this vulnerability to establish persistent access within the organization's mainframe environment, potentially affecting multiple systems that rely on the compromised server for critical operations. Organizations with multiple s/390 systems running this specific version of SUSE Linux Enterprise Server would be particularly vulnerable if proper network segmentation is not in place.
The mitigation strategies for this vulnerability primarily involve applying the appropriate security patches provided by SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 9 vendors, which would include kernel updates that properly handle the privileged instruction in question. System administrators should also implement comprehensive monitoring for suspicious privilege escalation activities and ensure that proper access controls and user management practices are in place. Additionally, organizations should consider implementing network segmentation to limit local access to critical systems and reduce the attack surface. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-276 which describes improper privilege management, and could be mapped to ATT&CK technique T1068 which covers local privilege escalation. Organizations should also review their overall security posture and ensure that privilege separation mechanisms are properly enforced across all systems, particularly in environments where mainframe and distributed computing systems interconnect. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be conducted to identify similar issues that may exist in other components of the system infrastructure.