CVE-2010-2525 in Linux
Summary
by MITRE • 06/22/2021
A flaw was discovered in gfs2 file system’s handling of acls (access control lists). An unprivileged local attacker could exploit this flaw to gain access or execute any file stored in the gfs2 file system.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/26/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2010-2525 represents a critical access control flaw within the GNU General Public License version 2 file system implementation known as gfs2. This distributed file system operates within Linux environments and is designed to provide shared storage capabilities across multiple nodes in a cluster configuration. The flaw specifically resides in how gfs2 processes access control lists, which are fundamental mechanisms for defining permissions and access rights to files and directories within the system.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from improper validation and handling of access control list entries within the gfs2 file system kernel module. When the system processes file access requests, it fails to properly verify the integrity and authorization status of ACL entries, creating a potential privilege escalation path. An attacker exploiting this vulnerability can manipulate the ACL structures to bypass normal access controls, effectively allowing unauthorized access to files or execution of arbitrary code within the file system boundaries. This represents a classic case of insufficient access control validation that violates fundamental security principles of least privilege and mandatory access controls.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple unauthorized file access, as it fundamentally undermines the security model of the gfs2 file system. Local attackers who previously had no elevated privileges can leverage this flaw to gain unauthorized access to sensitive data stored across the distributed file system. The implications are particularly severe in clustered environments where multiple nodes share the same gfs2 storage, as compromise of one node can potentially lead to broader system infiltration. The vulnerability affects systems where gfs2 is actively deployed and managed, making it relevant to enterprise storage solutions, high-performance computing clusters, and distributed computing environments that rely on this specific file system implementation.
This vulnerability aligns with CWE-284, which describes improper access control in software implementations, and demonstrates characteristics consistent with ATT&CK technique T1068, which involves exploiting local privilege escalation vulnerabilities. The flaw represents a significant gap in the security architecture of the gfs2 implementation, where the system fails to properly enforce access control boundaries that should prevent unauthorized operations. Organizations utilizing gfs2 file systems should immediately implement patch management procedures to address this vulnerability, as it provides a direct path for local attackers to bypass established security controls. The remediation process requires kernel-level updates that properly validate ACL entries and ensure that access control decisions are made based on verified authorization information rather than potentially manipulated data structures.