CVE-2008-0589 in AIX
Summary
by MITRE
The ps program in bos.rte.control in IBM AIX 5.2, 5.3, and 6.1 allows local users to obtain sensitive information via unspecified vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/01/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2008-0589 affects the ps command utility within the bos.rte.control package of IBM AIX operating systems version 5.2, 5.3, and 6.1. This represents a significant information disclosure flaw that enables local attackers to extract sensitive system information through unspecified attack vectors. The ps command is fundamental to system administration tasks, providing process information that is typically restricted to authorized users. When a vulnerability exists within this core utility, it creates a pathway for unauthorized information gathering that can significantly compromise system security posture.
The technical flaw stems from improper access controls within the ps program implementation that fails to adequately restrict information disclosure to unauthorized local users. This vulnerability manifests as an information exposure issue where sensitive process metadata, system credentials, or other confidential data may be accessible through the ps command execution. The unspecified vectors suggest that multiple attack paths exist, potentially including improper privilege handling, inadequate input validation, or flawed permission checks within the command's execution environment. Such vulnerabilities often relate to CWE-200, which specifically addresses information exposure through improper access control mechanisms. The ps command typically displays process information including process identifiers, resource usage, and command line arguments that may contain sensitive parameters or environment variables.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability creates substantial risk for IBM AIX systems as local users can exploit it to gather intelligence that could facilitate further attacks. The information obtained through this vulnerability may include process execution details that could reveal system architecture, running services, or even credential information that might be embedded within command line arguments. This type of information disclosure can enable attackers to craft more sophisticated attacks or identify additional system weaknesses. The vulnerability affects all versions mentioned including AIX 5.2, 5.3, and 6.1, indicating a long-standing issue within the IBM AIX product line that required remediation through system updates and patches. Attackers could potentially combine this information with other reconnaissance data to perform privilege escalation or lateral movement within the compromised system.
The mitigation strategy for this vulnerability involves applying the appropriate IBM AIX security patches and updates that address the information disclosure issue within the ps command utility. System administrators should ensure that all IBM AIX systems are updated to the latest security patches provided by IBM, particularly those addressing the bos.rte.control package. Additionally, implementing proper access controls and monitoring for unauthorized ps command usage can help detect potential exploitation attempts. Organizations should also consider implementing principle of least privilege controls to limit local user access to system information and regularly audit process monitoring activities. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1083, which covers discovery of system information through process enumeration, and demonstrates how seemingly benign system utilities can present security risks when not properly secured against unauthorized access. The remediation process should include comprehensive testing of patched systems to ensure that the information disclosure vulnerability has been fully addressed without introducing regressions in system functionality.