CVE-2011-3164 in HP-UX Containers
Summary
by MITRE
Unspecified vulnerability in HP-UX Containers (formerly HP-UX Secure Resource Partitions (SRP)) A.03.00, A.03.00.002, and A.03.01, when running with patch PHKL_42310, allows local users to gain privileges via unknown vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/11/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2011-3164 affects HP-UX Containers technology, formerly known as HP-UX Secure Resource Partitions, which represents a critical security weakness in the operating system's containerization framework. This vulnerability specifically impacts versions A.03.00, A.03.00.002, and A.03.01 of the HP-UX Containers implementation, with the issue persisting even when the system is patched with PHKL_42310. The flaw exists within the privilege escalation mechanisms of the container environment, creating a potential pathway for local attackers to elevate their access rights within the system.
The technical nature of this vulnerability resides in unspecified attack vectors that allow local users to gain elevated privileges, which aligns with common privilege escalation flaws categorized under CWE-264. These types of vulnerabilities typically exploit weaknesses in access control mechanisms or security checks within the operating system's kernel or container management components. The unspecified nature of the attack vectors suggests that the vulnerability may involve multiple pathways or could be related to improper privilege checking within the container runtime environment, potentially affecting how the system handles process isolation and resource access controls.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is significant within enterprise environments that rely on HP-UX Containers for system isolation and security segmentation. Local users who exploit this vulnerability can potentially gain administrative privileges, which would allow them to access sensitive data, modify system configurations, or compromise the integrity of other containerized applications running on the same host. This represents a serious threat to the security posture of systems that depend on containerization for isolation, as it undermines the fundamental security principle that local users should not be able to escalate privileges beyond their intended access levels. The vulnerability particularly affects organizations using HP-UX systems where containerization is employed for resource partitioning and security enforcement.
From a cybersecurity perspective, this vulnerability maps to several ATT&CK techniques including privilege escalation and defense evasion, as local users could leverage this flaw to maintain persistent access to compromised systems. The vulnerability also relates to the broader category of container escape techniques that attackers might use to break out of isolated environments. Organizations should consider implementing comprehensive monitoring for privilege escalation attempts and ensure proper patch management procedures are in place to address such vulnerabilities. The presence of this flaw in patched systems underscores the importance of thorough vulnerability assessment and the potential for zero-day exploitation opportunities even after patches are applied. Security teams should prioritize immediate remediation efforts and conduct thorough assessments of containerized environments to identify potential exploitation vectors and implement appropriate access controls and monitoring measures to prevent unauthorized privilege escalation.