CVE-2010-4274 in Director Agent
Summary
by MITRE
reset_diragent_keys in the Common agent in IBM Systems Director 6.2.0 has 754 permissions, which allows local users to gain privileges by leveraging system group membership.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/07/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2010-4274 resides within IBM Systems Director version 6.2.0, specifically within the Common agent component. This flaw manifests in the improper permission settings of the reset_diragent_keys utility, which is configured with overly permissive 754 permissions. The security implications of this misconfiguration are significant as it creates an avenue for local privilege escalation attacks. The utility's permissions allow members of the system group to execute it, potentially enabling them to manipulate the directory agent keys that control access to system resources. This represents a classic case of insecure file permissions that violates fundamental security principles of least privilege and access control.
The technical flaw stems from the incorrect assignment of file permissions where the reset_diragent_keys utility is set with world-readable and group-executable permissions. Under the 754 permission scheme, the owner retains full permissions while the group and others have read and execute access. This configuration allows local users who are members of the system group to execute the utility, which likely performs operations that modify critical system authentication keys or directory agent configurations. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it leverages existing group membership rather than requiring additional privilege escalation techniques, making it more accessible to attackers who have already gained local access to the system.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple privilege escalation as it can enable attackers to compromise the integrity of the IBM Systems Director management infrastructure. When local users can execute reset_diragent_keys with elevated group permissions, they may be able to reset or modify authentication credentials for directory agents, potentially gaining unauthorized access to managed systems or disrupting the management workflow. This vulnerability undermines the security model of the IBM Systems Director platform by allowing local privilege escalation without requiring additional attack vectors or complex exploitation techniques. The impact is particularly severe in enterprise environments where IBM Systems Director is used for managing critical infrastructure components.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2010-4274 should focus on correcting the permission settings of the reset_diragent_keys utility to ensure it operates with appropriate access controls. The file permissions should be restricted to the minimum necessary for legitimate system operations, typically limiting execution to the owner or specific administrative groups. Organizations should implement regular security audits to identify and correct similar permission misconfigurations across their systems. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-732, which addresses incorrect permission assignment, and could be mapped to ATT&CK technique T1068, involving the exploitation of privilege escalation vulnerabilities. System administrators should also consider implementing additional monitoring and logging around execution of privileged utilities to detect potential exploitation attempts. The remediation process should include verifying that only authorized system administrators have access to modify these critical utility files while ensuring that legitimate administrative functions remain operational.