CVE-2012-2010 in OpenVMS
Summary
by MITRE
The ACMELOGIN implementation in HP OpenVMS 8.3 and 8.4 on the Alpha platform, and 8.3, 8.3-1H1, and 8.4 on the Itanium platform, when the SYS$ACM system service is enabled, allows local users to gain privileges via unspecified vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/02/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2012-2010 represents a significant privilege escalation flaw within the ACMELOGIN implementation of HP OpenVMS operating systems across multiple versions and hardware platforms. This security weakness specifically affects systems running OpenVMS 8.3 and 8.4 on Alpha architecture platforms, as well as versions 8.3, 8.3-1H1, and 8.4 on Itanium platforms where the SYS$ACM system service has been enabled. The vulnerability resides in the authentication and authorization mechanisms that govern how user login processes are handled within the operating system's security framework, creating an exploitable condition that could allow local attackers to elevate their privileges from standard user level to administrative or system-level access.
The technical implementation flaw stems from insufficient validation and handling of authentication parameters within the ACMELOGIN subsystem when the SYS$ACM service is active. This condition creates a pathway for local users to manipulate authentication flows and potentially bypass normal access controls that should prevent privilege escalation. The unspecified vectors mentioned in the description indicate that the vulnerability may be exploitable through multiple attack surfaces within the authentication subsystem, potentially involving improper input validation, inadequate privilege checks, or flawed session management within the authentication process. Such weaknesses in the core security services of an operating system represent particularly dangerous conditions as they can be leveraged by attackers who already have access to the system to gain elevated privileges without requiring additional attack vectors or external exploitation methods.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe for organizations relying on HP OpenVMS systems, as local users who can exploit this condition can potentially gain complete control over system resources, access sensitive data, modify system configurations, and perform administrative functions that should be restricted to authorized personnel only. This privilege escalation capability undermines the fundamental security model of the operating system and can lead to complete system compromise, data breaches, and potential disruption of critical business operations. The vulnerability affects multiple versions of OpenVMS across different hardware architectures, indicating a widespread issue that would require comprehensive patching across various system deployments and potentially necessitating system downtime for remediation. Organizations with legacy OpenVMS installations that have not been updated to newer versions may face particular challenges in addressing this vulnerability.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should include immediate implementation of vendor-provided patches and updates that address the authentication implementation flaws within the ACMELOGIN subsystem. System administrators should disable the SYS$ACM service where it is not strictly required for business operations, as this service appears to be a prerequisite for the vulnerability to be exploitable. Additionally, organizations should implement comprehensive monitoring of authentication logs and privilege escalation events to detect potential exploitation attempts. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-284 Access Control Issues, specifically related to insufficient privilege checking and improper access control mechanisms within the operating system's security services. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to privilege escalation techniques where adversaries leverage system service weaknesses to gain elevated privileges, representing a foundational attack pattern that can enable further malicious activities within the compromised environment. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be conducted to identify similar weaknesses in other system components and ensure that the overall security posture remains robust against both known and emerging threats.