CVE-2012-2188 in Power Hardware Management Console
Summary
by MITRE
IBM Power Hardware Management Console (HMC) 7R3.5.0 before SP4, 7R7.1.0 and 7R7.2.0 before 7R7.2.0 SP3, and 7R7.3.0 before SP2, and Systems Director Management Console (SDMC) 6R7.3.0 before SP2, does not properly restrict the VIOS viosrvcmd command, which allows local users to gain privileges via vectors involving a (1) $ (dollar sign) or (2) & (ampersand) character.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/12/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2012-2188 affects IBM Power Hardware Management Console (HMC) and Systems Director Management Console (SDMC) products, representing a critical privilege escalation flaw in enterprise system management software. This vulnerability exists in multiple versions of IBM's management consoles, specifically impacting HMC versions 7R3.5.0 before service pack 4, 7R7.1.0, 7R7.2.0 before service pack 3, and 7R7.3.0 before service pack 2, alongside SDMC version 6R7.3.0 before service pack 2. The flaw stems from improper input validation within the VIOS viosrvcmd command execution mechanism, creating a dangerous condition where local users can exploit specific character sequences to elevate their privileges. The vulnerability specifically relates to how the system handles command execution when dollar sign and ampersand characters are present in the input, enabling attackers to bypass intended access controls and execute arbitrary commands with elevated privileges.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability involves the manipulation of command injection vectors through the viosrvcmd command interface. When local users submit commands containing either the dollar sign ($) or ampersand (&) characters, the system fails to properly sanitize these inputs, allowing for unintended command interpretation and execution. The dollar sign character typically represents variable expansion in shell environments, while the ampersand character denotes background process execution, both of which when improperly handled can lead to arbitrary code execution. This flaw directly maps to CWE-78, which describes improper neutralization of special elements used in OS commands, and CWE-20, covering improper input validation. The vulnerability demonstrates a classic command injection weakness that allows attackers to execute commands beyond the intended scope of the management console, potentially enabling full system compromise.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple privilege escalation to encompass potential system compromise and unauthorized access to critical infrastructure management functions. Local users who can exploit this vulnerability gain the ability to execute commands with elevated privileges, potentially allowing them to access sensitive system information, modify configurations, or even gain root access to the underlying operating system. This creates a significant risk for enterprise environments where these management consoles are used to oversee critical hardware infrastructure, as unauthorized privilege escalation could lead to complete system compromise. The vulnerability affects organizations using IBM Power Systems, where the HMC and SDMC are essential for system monitoring, configuration management, and maintenance operations, making it a high-value target for attackers seeking persistent access to enterprise infrastructure.
Organizations should immediately implement mitigations including applying the relevant service packs and patches provided by IBM to address the input validation flaws in the viosrvcmd command implementation. The recommended approach involves upgrading all affected HMC and SDMC versions to their respective service pack releases that contain the necessary security fixes. Additionally, system administrators should implement network segmentation to limit local access to these management consoles, reducing the attack surface for local privilege escalation attempts. Security monitoring should be enhanced to detect suspicious command execution patterns involving special characters, and access controls should be reviewed to ensure only authorized personnel have local access to these critical management interfaces. The mitigation strategy should also include regular vulnerability assessments and penetration testing to identify potential exploitation vectors, aligning with ATT&CK technique T1068 which covers local privilege escalation through command injection vulnerabilities. Organizations should also consider implementing privileged access management solutions to further reduce the risk of unauthorized privilege escalation through such flaws.