CVE-2012-3419 in Performance Co-Pilot
Summary
by MITRE
Performance Co-Pilot (PCP) before 3.6.5 exports some of the /proc file system, which allows attackers to obtain sensitive information such as proc/pid/maps and command line arguments.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/12/2021
Performance Co-Pilot version 3.6.5 and earlier contains a significant information disclosure vulnerability that stems from improper handling of /proc file system exports. This flaw exists within the pmdaProc performance metrics domain agent which is responsible for collecting process-related performance data from the Linux operating system. The vulnerability arises when the pmdaProc agent exports certain /proc filesystem entries without adequate access controls or sanitization mechanisms, allowing remote attackers to access sensitive process information through the PCP monitoring infrastructure.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the pmdaProc agent's exposure of /proc/pid/maps and command line argument files which contain detailed memory mappings and process execution parameters. These files typically contain sensitive information such as memory addresses, library locations, and command line parameters that could reveal system configuration details, application behavior, or even potential attack vectors. The flaw represents a direct violation of the principle of least privilege as defined in the CWE-250 standard, where processes should only have access to resources necessary for their operation. When an attacker can access these files through the PCP monitoring interface, they gain insights into running processes that could be exploited for further attacks.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, creating potential pathways for more sophisticated attacks within a compromised system. Attackers can leverage the exposed process information to identify running applications, understand memory layouts, and potentially discover vulnerabilities in target processes. This information can be particularly valuable for attackers seeking to perform privilege escalation attacks or exploit specific application weaknesses. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1057 (Process Discovery) and T1082 (System Information Discovery) as it provides adversaries with systematic access to process and system information that would normally require local access or elevated privileges. The exposure of command line arguments particularly reveals application configuration details and potential command injection points that could be exploited in subsequent attack phases.
The root cause of this vulnerability lies in the lack of proper input validation and access control mechanisms within the PCP monitoring framework. The pmdaProc agent does not adequately filter or restrict access to sensitive /proc filesystem entries, creating an information leak that violates fundamental security principles. This represents a classic case of insufficient access control as outlined in CWE-284, where the system fails to properly enforce access restrictions on sensitive data. Organizations using PCP for system monitoring are particularly vulnerable since the monitoring infrastructure is often configured to provide broad access to process information for legitimate administrative purposes, inadvertently exposing sensitive data to unauthorized users.
Mitigation strategies should focus on immediate patching to version 3.6.5 or later, which addresses the information disclosure issue through proper access control implementation. System administrators should also implement network segmentation to limit access to PCP monitoring interfaces, particularly when the monitoring infrastructure is exposed to untrusted networks. Additionally, regular security audits should be conducted to identify and remove unnecessary process information exports from monitoring agents. The implementation of proper access controls and privilege separation within the PCP framework would prevent similar vulnerabilities from occurring in the future, aligning with the security best practices outlined in the NIST Cybersecurity Framework and ISO 27001 standards for information security management.