CVE-2004-2270 in Parallel Environment
Summary
by MITRE
Unknown vulnerability in IBM Parallel Environment (PE) 3.2 and 4.1 allows attackers to execute arbitrary commands as root via unknown vectors in the sample code.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/30/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2004-2270 represents a critical security flaw within IBM Parallel Environment versions 3.2 and 4.1 that enables unauthorized command execution with root privileges. This issue stems from inadequate input validation and privilege escalation mechanisms within the sample code components of the parallel computing framework. The vulnerability manifests through unknown attack vectors that specifically target the execution environment of the IBM PE software, creating a pathway for malicious actors to gain elevated system access. The flaw exists in the way the system processes certain commands or data inputs within its sample code implementations, potentially allowing remote or local attackers to inject and execute arbitrary code with the highest system privileges.
The technical nature of this vulnerability aligns with common software security weaknesses documented in CWE categories related to privilege escalation and command injection flaws. The issue demonstrates characteristics consistent with CWE-78 which describes improper neutralization of special elements used in OS commands, and CWE-20 which covers input validation errors that can lead to command injection attacks. The vulnerability exploits weaknesses in the software's handling of user-supplied data or configuration parameters that are processed without adequate sanitization or access control checks. Attackers can leverage this flaw by crafting specific inputs that bypass normal security controls and directly invoke system commands through the vulnerable sample code components. The attack vectors likely involve manipulation of environment variables, command-line arguments, or configuration files that are processed by the parallel environment's sample applications.
The operational impact of CVE-2004-2270 extends beyond simple privilege escalation to encompass complete system compromise and potential data exfiltration. Systems running affected versions of IBM PE become vulnerable to unauthorized access that could result in complete network infiltration, data manipulation, or service disruption. Organizations utilizing parallel computing environments for high-performance computing tasks face significant risk as attackers can exploit this vulnerability to gain root access to compute nodes and potentially compromise entire clusters. The vulnerability particularly affects scientific and research institutions that rely on parallel computing frameworks for complex computational workloads, where the compromise of individual nodes can lead to broader security breaches across distributed computing environments. The attack surface is expanded due to the nature of parallel computing systems that often require elevated privileges for proper operation, making the privilege escalation more impactful.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on immediate patch application and system hardening measures. Organizations must prioritize updating to patched versions of IBM Parallel Environment that address the command execution flaws in the sample code components. System administrators should implement strict access controls and privilege separation to minimize the impact of potential exploitation, ensuring that sample code components run with minimal required privileges. Network segmentation and monitoring should be enhanced to detect anomalous command execution patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts. Security controls should include regular vulnerability assessments of parallel computing environments and implementation of runtime protection mechanisms. The remediation process must also involve comprehensive testing to ensure that patching does not disrupt legitimate parallel computing workflows while effectively closing the security gap. Additionally, organizations should consider implementing the principle of least privilege for all parallel computing components and establish robust incident response procedures specifically tailored to address potential exploitation of such privilege escalation vulnerabilities.