CVE-2014-3038 in SPSS Modeler
Summary
by MITRE
IBM SPSS Modeler 16.0 before 16.0.0.1 on UNIX does not properly drop group privileges, which allows local users to bypass intended file-access restrictions by leveraging (1) gid 0 or (2) root s group memberships.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/06/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-3038 affects IBM SPSS Modeler version 16.0 on UNIX systems where the application fails to properly relinquish group privileges after initialization. This flaw represents a classic privilege escalation issue that undermines the security model of the application and creates potential pathways for unauthorized access to restricted resources. The vulnerability specifically impacts systems where the application runs with elevated group permissions, creating a persistent security risk for local users who may exploit this weakness to gain unauthorized access to files and directories that should be restricted.
The technical flaw stems from improper privilege management within the IBM SPSS Modeler application, where group privileges are not adequately dropped during the application's initialization process. This misconfiguration allows the application to maintain elevated group permissions even after it has completed its initial setup and should have returned to a more restricted privilege level. When the application runs with group identifier 0 or root group memberships, local attackers can leverage these persistent privileges to bypass intended file-access controls and access resources that should be restricted to specific user groups or administrative levels. The vulnerability essentially creates a persistent backdoor within the application's privilege management mechanism.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability allows local users to escalate their privileges and access sensitive files and directories that are normally protected by the system's access control mechanisms. The exploitability of this vulnerability is particularly concerning because it requires minimal prerequisites - simply having access to a system where IBM SPSS Modeler is installed and running with elevated group permissions. Attackers can use this weakness to read confidential data, modify restricted files, or potentially establish persistent access to the system. The impact extends beyond simple file access restrictions as it can enable further exploitation and compromise of the entire system.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-250, which addresses "Execute Code with Unnecessary Privileges," and represents a failure in proper privilege separation that violates fundamental security principles. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to privilege escalation techniques and can be leveraged as part of a broader attack chain where initial access is gained and then expanded through local privilege escalation. Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including applying the vendor-provided patch to IBM SPSS Modeler 16.0.0.1 or higher, reviewing and restricting group memberships for the application's execution environment, and implementing proper privilege separation controls. System administrators should also consider implementing additional monitoring for unauthorized privilege escalation attempts and ensure that applications running with elevated privileges follow the principle of least privilege to minimize potential impact from such vulnerabilities.