CVE-2007-2996 in AIX
Summary
by MITRE
Unspecified vulnerability in perl.rte 5.8.0.10 through 5.8.0.95 on IBM AIX 5.2, and 5.8.2.10 through 5.8.2.50 on AIX 5.3, allows local users to gain privileges via unspecified vectors related to the installation and "waiting for a legitimate user to execute a binary that ships with Perl."
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/20/2019
This vulnerability exists within the perl runtime environment version 5.8.0.10 through 5.8.0.95 on IBM AIX 5.2 systems and version 5.8.2.10 through 5.8.2.50 on AIX 5.3 systems. The flaw represents a privilege escalation vulnerability that operates through unspecified vectors related to the installation process and the waiting period for legitimate users to execute binaries that ship with perl. The vulnerability specifically targets the interaction between the perl runtime environment and system security mechanisms during binary execution phases. This type of vulnerability falls under the category of privilege escalation attacks where local users can exploit weaknesses in the system's permission handling to elevate their privileges. The attack vector leverages the timing aspect of system operations where the perl runtime environment waits for user interaction with binaries, creating a window of opportunity for malicious exploitation. This vulnerability is particularly concerning because it operates at the system level where perl binaries are installed and executed, potentially allowing attackers to gain elevated system privileges without requiring external network access or complex attack chains.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability appears to involve a race condition or timing-based flaw in how the perl runtime environment handles privilege management during binary execution. When legitimate users execute perl binaries that ship with the system, the vulnerability allows malicious local users to manipulate the execution environment or exploit the waiting period to inject malicious code or alter system behavior. This could involve manipulating environment variables, exploiting shared memory segments, or interfering with the execution flow of legitimate perl processes. The vulnerability specifically targets the perl runtime environment's handling of user privileges during the binary execution lifecycle, where the system waits for user interaction with perl-based applications. The unspecified vectors suggest that the exact exploitation mechanism may involve multiple potential attack paths including process manipulation, file system permissions, or environment variable injection during the perl execution phase.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple privilege escalation to potentially compromise entire system security postures. Local users who exploit this vulnerability could gain root or administrative privileges, allowing them to modify system files, install malicious software, access sensitive data, or disable security mechanisms. The vulnerability affects systems where perl is installed as part of the standard operating environment, making it particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where perl is commonly used for system administration tasks. The attack requires local system access but does not need network connectivity, making it particularly insidious as it can be exploited by users with minimal privileges who have access to the system. Organizations with multiple users or shared systems are particularly at risk since any user with local access could potentially exploit this vulnerability to gain elevated privileges and compromise the entire system.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on immediate system updates and security hardening measures. The primary recommendation involves applying the appropriate security patches from IBM to upgrade the perl runtime environment to versions that address this specific vulnerability. System administrators should also implement strict access controls and monitoring for perl-related processes, particularly focusing on binaries that are executed with elevated privileges. The vulnerability's nature suggests that implementing proper environment variable sanitization and process isolation measures could help reduce the attack surface. Organizations should also consider implementing privilege separation techniques where perl execution is restricted to non-privileged contexts whenever possible. Additionally, monitoring for unusual perl process behavior and user activity during binary execution phases can help detect potential exploitation attempts. This vulnerability aligns with common attack patterns documented in the attack tree framework where local privilege escalation is achieved through exploitation of runtime environment weaknesses. The issue also relates to cwe-264, which covers permissions, privileges, and access control, and may map to attack techniques involving privilege escalation through local system manipulation.