CVE-2012-4845 in AIX
Summary
by MITRE
The FTP client in IBM AIX 6.1 and 7.1, and VIOS 2.2.1.4-FP-25 SP-02, does not properly manage privileges in an RBAC environment, which allows attackers to bypass intended file-read restrictions by leveraging the setuid installation of the ftp executable file.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/29/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2012-4845 represents a critical privilege escalation flaw within the File Transfer Protocol client implementation of IBM AIX operating systems. This issue affects IBM AIX versions 6.1 and 7.1, as well as VIOS 2.2.1.4-FP-25 SP-02, specifically targeting systems configured with Role-Based Access Control environments. The flaw stems from improper privilege management within the RBAC framework, creating a significant security gap that undermines the intended access controls.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability lies in the setuid installation of the ftp executable file, which is designed to run with elevated privileges to perform system-level operations. However, the FTP client implementation fails to properly validate and enforce privilege boundaries when operating within RBAC environments. This misconfiguration allows authenticated attackers to exploit the setuid mechanism in ways that bypass the intended file-read restrictions, effectively enabling unauthorized access to files that should be protected by the RBAC policies. The vulnerability specifically manifests when the ftp client attempts to access files with restricted permissions, as the privilege escalation occurs during the file access operations.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple unauthorized file access, as it fundamentally compromises the integrity of the RBAC security model within IBM AIX systems. Attackers can leverage this flaw to read sensitive system files, configuration data, and user information that should remain protected by the role-based access controls. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where AIX systems host critical business data and where RBAC is implemented to enforce security policies. Successful exploitation can lead to comprehensive system compromise, data exfiltration, and potential lateral movement within the network infrastructure.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2012-4845 should focus on immediate patching of affected systems with the vendor-provided security updates. Organizations should also implement additional monitoring to detect unusual ftp client behavior and privilege escalation attempts. The remediation process requires careful consideration of the setuid permissions on the ftp executable and proper configuration of RBAC policies to prevent unauthorized privilege elevation. Security administrators should conduct comprehensive audits of RBAC configurations and ensure that all systems are updated to prevent exploitation of this vulnerability. This issue aligns with CWE-276, which addresses improper privilege management, and represents a significant concern for organizations implementing RBAC security frameworks in their AIX environments. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper privilege separation and the potential consequences of inadequate security controls in role-based access management systems.