CVE-2011-3337 in Digital Security Audits
Summary
by MITRE
eEye Audit ID 2499 in eEye Digital Security Audits 2406 through 2423 for eEye Retina Network Security Scanner on HP-UX, IRIX, and Solaris allows local users to gain privileges via a Trojan horse gauntlet program in an arbitrary directory under /usr/local/.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/06/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2011-3337 represents a privilege escalation flaw within eEye Retina Network Security Scanner versions 2406 through 2423 that affects multiple unix operating systems including HP-UX, IRIX, and Solaris. This security weakness stems from improper handling of program execution paths during the scanner's operation, creating an exploitable condition that allows local attackers to elevate their system privileges. The vulnerability specifically manifests when the scanner encounters a Trojan horse program named gauntlet located in arbitrary directories under the /usr/local/ hierarchy, which the system incorrectly interprets as a legitimate component during security scanning operations.
The technical implementation of this flaw involves the scanner's failure to properly validate or sanitize file paths when executing auxiliary programs during network security assessments. When the Retina scanner processes network traffic or performs security checks, it may inadvertently execute programs located in the /usr/local/ directory structure without adequate permission controls or path validation. This creates a race condition or path traversal vulnerability where malicious actors can place a specially crafted Trojan horse program named gauntlet in directories under /usr/local/ and subsequently trigger its execution with elevated privileges. The underlying issue aligns with CWE-22 Path Traversal and CWE-78 Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in OS Command Injection, as the scanner fails to properly isolate or validate the execution environment for external programs.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple privilege escalation to potentially compromise entire system security postures. Local users who can write to directories under /usr/local/ can leverage this flaw to execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the scanner process, which typically runs with elevated system permissions. This allows attackers to gain root or administrative access to the affected systems, potentially enabling them to install backdoors, modify system configurations, steal sensitive data, or establish persistent access. The vulnerability is particularly concerning in enterprise environments where network security scanners are routinely deployed with elevated privileges to perform comprehensive security assessments across network infrastructure.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2011-3337 should focus on immediate remediation through official vendor patches and comprehensive system hardening measures. Organizations must apply the security updates provided by eEye Digital Security to address the specific privilege escalation flaw in Retina scanner versions 2406 through 2423. System administrators should implement strict directory permissions on /usr/local/ and related directories to prevent unauthorized users from creating or modifying programs in these locations. Additionally, the principle of least privilege should be enforced by running the scanner with minimal necessary permissions, and network segmentation should be implemented to limit the potential impact of successful exploitation. Security monitoring should be enhanced to detect suspicious execution patterns or unauthorized modifications to critical system directories, aligning with detection techniques outlined in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under T1068 Privilege Escalation and T1548 Abuse of Functionality.