CVE-2009-2084 in Slurm
Summary
by MITRE
Simple Linux Utility for Resource Management (SLURM) 1.2 and 1.3 before 1.3.14 does not properly set supplementary groups before invoking (1) sbcast from the slurmd daemon or (2) strigger from the slurmctld daemon, which might allow local SLURM users to modify files and gain privileges.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/07/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2009-2084 affects Simple Linux Utility for Resource Management (SLURM) versions 1.2 and 1.3 before 1.3.14, representing a critical privilege escalation issue within high-performance computing environments. This flaw manifests in the improper handling of supplementary group memberships during daemon execution, creating a pathway for local attackers to elevate their privileges and modify system files. The vulnerability specifically impacts two critical components of the SLURM architecture: the sbcast utility invoked from the slurmd daemon and the strigger utility executed from the slurmctld daemon. These utilities operate with elevated privileges within the SLURM framework, making them attractive targets for privilege escalation attacks.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability lies in the insufficient group context management within the SLURM daemon processes. When the slurmd daemon executes sbcast or when the slurmctld daemon invokes strigger, the system fails to properly establish the complete set of supplementary groups for these processes. This misconfiguration allows local users who have access to the SLURM environment to exploit the privilege escalation vector through the principle of least privilege violation. The flaw operates under CWE-276, which addresses improper file permissions and inadequate access control mechanisms, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1068, which covers privilege escalation through local exploitation of system vulnerabilities.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple privilege escalation, as it enables attackers to modify critical system files and potentially compromise the entire SLURM resource management infrastructure. In high-performance computing environments where multiple users share computational resources, this vulnerability could allow malicious actors to manipulate job scheduling, access sensitive data, or even gain root-level access to the underlying systems. The implications are particularly severe in academic and research institutions where SLURM is commonly deployed for managing large-scale computational clusters, as these environments often house sensitive research data and require robust security controls.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2009-2084 should prioritize immediate patching of affected SLURM installations to version 1.3.14 or later, which contains the necessary fixes for proper supplementary group handling. System administrators should also implement additional security measures including regular privilege audits, monitoring of daemon processes for unusual group membership changes, and implementation of least privilege principles for SLURM user accounts. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper privilege management in distributed computing environments and highlights the need for comprehensive security testing of system daemons and utilities. Organizations should also consider implementing network segmentation and access controls to limit exposure of SLURM services to untrusted users, while maintaining regular vulnerability assessments to identify similar privilege escalation vectors within their HPC infrastructure.