CVE-2006-0408 in Grid Engine
Summary
by MITRE
rsh utility in Sun Grid Engine (SGE) before 6.0u7_1 allows local users to gain privileges and execute arbitrary code via unspecified vectors, possibly involving command line arguments.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/07/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2006-0408 affects the rsh utility implementation within Sun Grid Engine (SGE) version 6.0u7 and earlier releases. This represents a critical privilege escalation flaw that enables local attackers to execute arbitrary code with elevated privileges. The vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and sanitization mechanisms within the rsh utility's command line argument processing, creating potential attack vectors that could be exploited by malicious users with local access to the system.
The technical flaw manifests in the improper handling of command line arguments passed to the rsh utility within the SGE framework. When local users invoke the rsh utility with specially crafted arguments, the system fails to properly validate or sanitize these inputs before processing them. This weakness creates opportunities for command injection attacks where attacker-controlled commands can be executed with the privileges of the SGE service account. The vulnerability falls under the category of command injection flaws, which are classified as CWE-77 in the Common Weakness Enumeration taxonomy, specifically representing improper neutralization of special elements used in command execution.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability poses significant risks to systems running affected SGE versions, particularly in high-performance computing environments where SGE manages distributed computing resources. Local users who can access the system can leverage this flaw to escalate their privileges and execute arbitrary code, potentially leading to complete system compromise. The impact extends beyond simple privilege escalation as attackers could use this vulnerability to establish persistent access, exfiltrate sensitive data, or disrupt critical computing operations managed by the grid engine. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it requires only local access, making it accessible to users who may have legitimate system access but should not have elevated privileges.
The attack surface for this vulnerability includes any local user who can invoke the rsh utility within the SGE environment, which typically encompasses users who have access to the grid computing infrastructure. Attackers could exploit this by crafting malicious command line arguments that bypass normal input validation, potentially executing system commands with root privileges. The vulnerability's impact is amplified in environments where SGE is used for cluster management, as compromised nodes could provide attackers with access to entire computing clusters. Mitigation strategies should include applying the vendor-supplied patch for SGE version 6.0u7_1 or later, implementing strict input validation controls, and conducting regular security assessments of grid computing environments. Organizations should also consider implementing privilege separation mechanisms and monitoring for suspicious command execution patterns. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under privilege escalation techniques, specifically leveraging weaknesses in service configuration and command execution processes. System administrators should prioritize patch management for SGE installations and implement comprehensive monitoring to detect unauthorized privilege escalation attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of secure coding practices in distributed computing environments and highlights the need for thorough input validation in all system components that handle user-supplied data.