CVE-2014-3272 in Tidal Enterprise Scheduler
Summary
by MITRE
The Agent in Cisco Tidal Enterprise Scheduler (TES) 6.1 and earlier allows local users to gain privileges via crafted Tidal Job Buffers (TJB) parameters, aka Bug ID CSCuo33074.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/21/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-3272 resides within Cisco Tidal Enterprise Scheduler version 6.1 and earlier, specifically affecting the Agent component that manages job execution processes. This issue represents a privilege escalation vulnerability that enables local attackers to elevate their system privileges through manipulation of Tidal Job Buffers parameters. The flaw exists in how the system processes and validates job buffer parameters, creating an avenue for unauthorized privilege elevation. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it operates at the local user level, meaning an attacker who already has access to the system can exploit this weakness to gain higher privileges without requiring additional authentication or network access. The affected Agent component processes job execution requests and handles buffer parameters that define job characteristics, execution context, and resource allocation. When these parameters are improperly validated or sanitized, they can be manipulated to trigger unintended system behavior.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the improper handling of Tidal Job Buffers within the scheduler's agent process. Attackers can craft specific parameter values that, when processed by the agent, result in privilege escalation. The vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and parameter sanitization within the Tidal Job Buffer processing logic. This type of flaw aligns with CWE-20, which covers improper input validation, and CWE-264, which addresses permissions, privileges, and access controls. The underlying mechanism likely involves buffer manipulation that allows execution of code with elevated privileges or manipulation of system resources that should be restricted to administrative users. The vulnerability's exploitation requires local system access and understanding of the Tidal Job Buffer parameter structure, making it more difficult to exploit remotely but still dangerous in compromised environments where local access exists.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple privilege escalation, as it can enable attackers to gain administrative control over the Tidal Enterprise Scheduler environment. This control allows for modification of job schedules, access to sensitive job data, potential disruption of business-critical processes, and access to systems that depend on Tidal for job orchestration. Organizations relying on Tidal Enterprise Scheduler for mission-critical operations face significant risk from this vulnerability, as it could enable attackers to manipulate automated processes that may control infrastructure, database access, or application deployments. The impact is particularly severe in environments where Tidal is used for managing critical business processes, as unauthorized privilege escalation could lead to complete system compromise or data manipulation. Attackers could potentially use this vulnerability to disrupt operations, steal sensitive data, or establish persistent access points within the enterprise environment.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2014-3272 should focus on immediate patching of affected systems, as Cisco has released security updates to address this vulnerability. Organizations should implement strict access controls and monitoring to detect unauthorized privilege escalation attempts. The principle of least privilege should be enforced, limiting local user access to only necessary system resources. Additionally, regular security assessments should include verification of Tidal Enterprise Scheduler configurations and monitoring for unusual job buffer parameter usage patterns. Network segmentation and access controls should be implemented to limit local access to systems running Tidal Enterprise Scheduler. Security teams should also establish monitoring procedures to detect potential exploitation attempts through abnormal privilege escalation activities. The vulnerability's classification under ATT&CK technique T1068, which covers privilege escalation through local exploits, indicates that defensive measures should include process monitoring, access logging, and anomaly detection systems that can identify unauthorized privilege elevation attempts. Organizations should also consider implementing privileged access management solutions to further reduce the risk of local privilege escalation exploits.