CVE-2005-1176 in AIX
Summary
by MITRE
race condition in jfs2 on aix 5.2 and 5.3 when deleting a file while i/o is still occurring for that file may write data to a different file which could leak sensitive information.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/14/2018
The vulnerability described in CVE-2005-1176 represents a critical race condition within the jfs2 filesystem implementation on IBM AIX operating systems version 5.2 and 5.3. This flaw occurs during concurrent file operations where the filesystem fails to properly synchronize access when a file deletion operation coincides with ongoing input/output activities for the same file. The race condition creates a scenario where the filesystem's internal data structures become inconsistent, leading to potential data corruption and information disclosure.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate synchronization mechanisms within the jfs2 filesystem driver. When a file deletion request is processed while active I/O operations are still in progress for that file, the filesystem's metadata management system does not properly coordinate these competing operations. This lack of proper locking and synchronization allows the system to potentially reuse file allocation structures before all pending I/O operations have completed, resulting in data being written to incorrect file locations. The underlying issue manifests as a failure in the filesystem's reference counting and allocation management logic, which should ensure that no data is written to a file location until all references to that location are properly managed.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data corruption, as it creates potential information leakage scenarios that could compromise system security. When data is written to incorrect file locations due to the race condition, sensitive information from one file may be inadvertently accessible through another file, creating a form of data leakage that could expose confidential data to unauthorized parties. This information disclosure risk is particularly concerning in enterprise environments where AIX systems handle sensitive business data, personal information, or proprietary intellectual property. The vulnerability essentially allows for a form of cross-file data contamination that could be exploited by malicious actors to gain unauthorized access to information that should remain isolated within its original file context.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate system updates and patches from IBM to address the synchronization flaws in the jfs2 filesystem implementation. Organizations should implement the latest AIX security patches and service levels that contain fixes for this race condition. Additionally, system administrators should monitor for concurrent file access patterns and implement proper file locking mechanisms when critical operations are performed. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-362, which describes race conditions in concurrent programming, and represents a specific instance of improper resource management in filesystem operations. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability could be leveraged as part of initial access or privilege escalation techniques, particularly in environments where attackers might exploit filesystem inconsistencies to gain access to sensitive data. System hardening measures should include implementing proper access controls, monitoring for unusual file access patterns, and ensuring that all systems are running patched versions of the AIX operating system to prevent exploitation of this race condition.