CVE-2014-2639 in MPIO Device Specific Module Manager
Summary
by MITRE
Unspecified vulnerability in HP MPIO Device Specific Module Manager before 4.02.00 allows local users to gain privileges via unknown vectors.
If you want to get the best quality for vulnerability data then you always have to consider VulDB.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/20/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-2639 resides within HP MPIO Device Specific Module Manager software version 4.02.00 and earlier, representing a critical security flaw that affects local users with the ability to escalate privileges through unspecified attack vectors. This issue falls under the broader category of privilege escalation vulnerabilities where unauthorized local access can potentially lead to elevated system permissions. The unspecified nature of the attack vectors suggests that the vulnerability could manifest through multiple pathways within the device specific module manager component of HP MPIO, making it particularly challenging to defend against without comprehensive understanding of all potential exploitation techniques.
The technical flaw within HP MPIO Device Specific Module Manager stems from inadequate privilege controls and access validation mechanisms implemented within the device specific module manager component. This vulnerability represents a failure in the principle of least privilege where local users can potentially exploit weaknesses in the module manager to execute code with elevated privileges. The device specific module manager is responsible for handling communication between the multipath I/O subsystem and specific storage device drivers, making it a critical component in enterprise storage environments where system integrity and data protection are paramount. The vulnerability could involve improper input validation, insufficient access controls, or flawed privilege checking mechanisms that allow local users to bypass normal security restrictions and gain unauthorized elevated access to system resources.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability poses significant risk to enterprise environments that rely on HP MPIO for storage management and redundancy. Local users with access to systems running vulnerable versions of HP MPIO Device Specific Module Manager could potentially escalate their privileges to system administrator level, enabling them to access sensitive data, modify system configurations, or even install malicious software. The attack surface expands particularly in environments where multiple users share systems or where privilege separation is not strictly enforced. Organizations utilizing HP MPIO for mission-critical storage solutions face potential data breaches, system compromise, and unauthorized access to enterprise storage resources, which could result in substantial financial losses and operational disruptions. The vulnerability could be exploited in conjunction with other local privilege escalation techniques, amplifying the overall security risk.
Security professionals should implement immediate mitigation strategies including applying the vendor-provided security patches and updates to HP MPIO Device Specific Module Manager to version 4.02.00 or later. System administrators should also enforce strict access controls and monitor local user activities on systems running vulnerable software. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-276, which addresses improper privilege management, and could potentially map to ATT&CK technique T1068, which covers privilege escalation through local exploit techniques. Organizations should also consider implementing network segmentation and access control measures to limit local user access to critical systems. Regular vulnerability assessments and security audits should be conducted to identify and remediate similar issues within the storage management infrastructure. Additionally, monitoring for suspicious privilege escalation activities and implementing proper logging and alerting mechanisms can help detect exploitation attempts and provide early warning of potential security incidents. The remediation process should include comprehensive testing to ensure that the patch does not introduce compatibility issues with existing storage configurations and that all system components remain functional after the update process.