CVE-2012-4516 in librdmacm
Summary
by MITRE
librdmacm 1.0.16, when ibacm.port is not specified, connects to port 6125, which allows remote attackers to specify the address resolution information for the application via a malicious ib_acm service.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/19/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2012-4516 affects the librdmacm library version 1.0.16, specifically targeting the InfiniBand Address Resolution service implementation. This flaw resides in the default configuration handling where the ibacm.port parameter is left unspecified, causing the system to automatically bind to port 6125. The issue creates a significant security risk by allowing remote attackers to manipulate address resolution information through a malicious ib_acm service, effectively compromising the integrity of network communications within InfiniBand environments. The vulnerability stems from improper input validation and insecure default configurations that fail to adequately authenticate or authorize external service connections.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the default port binding mechanism within the librdmacm library where the absence of explicit port specification triggers a hardcoded default of port 6125. When applications utilizing this library fail to explicitly configure the ibacm.port parameter, they automatically listen on this well-known port, making it susceptible to exploitation by malicious actors who can inject forged address resolution data. This behavior represents a classic example of insecure default configuration as outlined in CWE-254, where security-relevant parameters are set to insecure values by default. The flaw enables attackers to perform man-in-the-middle attacks against InfiniBand communication channels by presenting falsified address resolution information that gets accepted by applications using the vulnerable library.
The operational impact of CVE-2012-4516 extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it can lead to complete compromise of InfiniBand network communications within affected systems. Remote attackers can manipulate routing decisions, redirect traffic to malicious endpoints, or perform denial-of-service attacks by corrupting address resolution data. This vulnerability particularly affects high-performance computing environments, data centers, and enterprise networks that rely on InfiniBand for low-latency communication between servers. The attack vector allows adversaries to exploit the trust relationship between applications and the ib_acm service, potentially leading to data exfiltration, system compromise, or disruption of critical network services. According to ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability maps to T1071.004 for application layer protocol manipulation and T1566 for social engineering through malicious service manipulation.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2012-4516 require immediate implementation of explicit port configuration for the ibacm service, ensuring that applications specify the ibacm.port parameter during initialization. System administrators should configure applications to use non-standard ports or implement firewall rules that restrict access to port 6125, particularly in environments where the ib_acm service is not required. The most effective remediation involves updating to newer versions of librdmacm where the default port binding behavior has been corrected and enhanced authentication mechanisms have been implemented. Organizations should also implement network monitoring to detect unauthorized access attempts to the ib_acm service and consider implementing mandatory access controls for InfiniBand network services. Additionally, security awareness training for system administrators regarding secure configuration practices and regular vulnerability assessments of network infrastructure components should be conducted to prevent similar issues from occurring in other system components.