CVE-2009-1806 in Hardware Management Console
Summary
by MITRE
Unspecified vulnerability in IBM Hardware Management Console (HMC) 7 release 3.4.0 SP2, when Active Memory Sharing is used, has unknown impact and attack vectors, related to a shared memory partition and a shared memory pool with redundant paging Virtual I/O Server (VIOS) partitions. NOTE: some of these details are obtained from third party information.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/07/2017
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2009-1806 resides within IBM's Hardware Management Console version 7 release 3.4.0 SP2, specifically when Active Memory Sharing functionality is implemented. This configuration involves shared memory partitions and redundant paging Virtual I/O Server partitions that create complex memory management scenarios. The vulnerability's nature remains unspecified, indicating that the precise technical flaw has not been fully documented or disclosed in the initial CVE entry, though it is clearly tied to memory sharing mechanisms within the HMC environment. The complexity of this issue stems from the interaction between multiple system components including memory allocation, partition management, and virtual I/O operations that are all orchestrated through the HMC interface.
The technical flaw manifests in the context of Active Memory Sharing where multiple partitions share memory resources through a common memory pool. When redundant paging VIOS partitions are involved, the vulnerability likely exploits weaknesses in how memory is allocated, managed, or accessed across these shared resources. This scenario creates potential attack surfaces where malicious actors could potentially manipulate memory allocation patterns or exploit inconsistencies in how shared memory is handled during paging operations. The vulnerability's relationship to shared memory partitions suggests it may involve issues such as memory corruption, privilege escalation, or unauthorized access to memory resources that should be isolated between different partitions.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple memory management issues, as it affects the fundamental security posture of IBM Power Systems environments that rely on Active Memory Sharing for resource optimization. Organizations using HMC 7.3.4.0 SP2 with Active Memory Sharing configurations face potential risks including unauthorized data access, system instability, or even complete system compromise if exploitation occurs. The presence of redundant VIOS partitions adds another layer of complexity since these partitions typically handle critical I/O operations, making any vulnerability in this area potentially devastating to system availability and data integrity. The unknown attack vectors indicate that the threat landscape for this vulnerability is not fully understood, which complicates both defensive strategies and risk assessment efforts.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2009-1806 should focus on immediate system hardening and configuration reviews. Organizations should consider disabling Active Memory Sharing if it is not essential for their operations, or implementing additional monitoring controls around memory allocation and partition behavior. The vulnerability's connection to shared memory pools and redundant VIOS partitions suggests that network segmentation and access controls should be strengthened around HMC management interfaces. System administrators should also implement comprehensive logging and monitoring of memory-related activities, particularly when Active Memory Sharing is enabled. According to CWE classification, this vulnerability may relate to CWE-119 Improper Restriction of Operations within the Memory Space or CWE-264 Permissions, Privileges, and Access Controls, while ATT&CK framework considerations might include T1068 Exploitation for Privilege Escalation and T1070 Indicator Removal on Host. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be conducted to identify any potential exploitation attempts, and patch management procedures should be established to ensure timely remediation when vendor-supplied fixes become available.