CVE-2004-2697 in AIX
Summary
by MITRE
The Inventory Scout daemon (invscoutd) 1.3.0.0 and 2.0.2 for AIX 4.3.3 and 5.1 allows local users to gain privileges via a symlink attack on a command line argument (log file). NOTE: this might be related to CVE-2006-5002.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/05/2024
The vulnerability described in CVE-2004-2697 affects the Inventory Scout daemon (invscoutd) version 1.3.0.0 and 2.0.2 running on AIX operating systems version 4.3.3 and 5.1. This daemon is responsible for inventory collection and system monitoring activities within the AIX environment. The flaw manifests as a privilege escalation vulnerability that can be exploited by local attackers who manipulate symbolic links to gain elevated system privileges. The vulnerability specifically occurs when the daemon processes command line arguments that reference log files, creating an opportunity for attackers to manipulate the file system through symlink attacks.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from improper handling of file paths and symbolic link resolution within the daemon's argument processing logic. When invscoutd accepts command line arguments containing log file paths, it does not properly validate or sanitize these paths before processing them. Local users can create malicious symbolic links that point to sensitive system files or directories, and when the daemon processes these arguments, it follows the symbolic links and performs operations that would normally be restricted to privileged users. This represents a classic symlink race condition vulnerability where the timing between link creation and file access creates an exploitable window.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is significant as it allows local users to escalate their privileges from standard user level to root or administrative privileges within the AIX system. Attackers can leverage this to gain full control over system resources, modify critical system files, install malware, or establish persistent backdoors. The vulnerability affects systems running AIX 4.3.3 and 5.1, which were widely deployed enterprise systems at the time, making this a potentially widespread issue. The privilege escalation capability undermines the fundamental security model of the operating system, as local users can bypass normal access controls and system protections.
This vulnerability aligns with CWE-367, which describes the "Time-of-Check to Time-of-Use (TOCTOU) vulnerability" pattern, where the system state changes between validation and actual use of resources. The attack vector also corresponds to ATT&CK technique T1068, which involves the exploitation of legitimate credentials and system access to escalate privileges. The symlink attack mechanism is consistent with ATT&CK technique T1570, which covers the use of legitimate system tools and processes to gain elevated privileges through file system manipulation. Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including updating to patched versions of the Inventory Scout daemon, implementing proper file system permissions, and monitoring for suspicious symbolic link creation activities. System administrators should also consider implementing additional security controls such as file integrity monitoring and privilege separation mechanisms to reduce the attack surface. The vulnerability's relationship to CVE-2006-5002 suggests that similar issues may exist in related components, warranting comprehensive security assessments of all system inventory and monitoring tools.