CVE-2014-4813 in Tivoli Storage Manager
Summary
by MITRE
Race condition in the client in IBM Tivoli Storage Manager (TSM) 5.4.0.0 through 5.4.3.6, 5.5.0.0 through 5.5.4.3, 6.1.0.0 through 6.1.5.6, 6.2 before 6.2.5.4, 6.3 before 6.3.2.3, 6.4 before 6.4.2.1, and 7.1 before 7.1.1 on UNIX and Linux allows local users to obtain root privileges via unspecified vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/21/2017
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-4813 represents a critical race condition flaw within the client component of IBM Tivoli Storage Manager across multiple versions spanning from 5.4.0.0 through 7.1.1. This race condition exists specifically within the UNIX and Linux operating system environments where the TSM client software is deployed. The flaw manifests in a manner that permits local users to escalate their privileges to the root level, creating a significant security risk for systems where TSM is implemented. The vulnerability's impact extends across several major release lines including 5.4, 5.5, 6.1, 6.2, 6.3, 6.4, and 7.1, indicating a widespread issue that affected a substantial portion of the TSM client base.
The technical implementation of this race condition involves a timing-dependent flaw in the client software's privilege management mechanisms. When local users execute specific operations against the TSM client, the software's handling of concurrent processes or resource access creates opportunities for privilege escalation. The unspecified vectors suggest that the race condition could be triggered through various methods including but not limited to file manipulation, process execution, or system call interference. This type of vulnerability falls under the category of CWE-362, which specifically addresses Race Conditions, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1068 which covers 'Exploitation for Privilege Escalation' through local system exploits. The underlying mechanism typically involves a window of time during which the system's security checks are bypassed or improperly validated, allowing unauthorized privilege elevation.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe as it enables local attackers to gain root privileges without requiring authentication or administrative access. This privilege escalation capability allows attackers to perform actions such as modifying system files, installing malware, accessing sensitive data, and potentially compromising the entire system. In enterprise environments where TSM clients are deployed for backup and storage management, this vulnerability could be exploited to gain unauthorized access to critical backup data and system configurations. The widespread nature of affected versions means that organizations running multiple TSM client versions across their infrastructure face significant risk. The vulnerability particularly affects environments where local users have access to systems running TSM clients, making it exploitable in scenarios where users might have legitimate access to systems but could leverage this flaw for malicious purposes.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2014-4813 primarily involve applying the vendor-provided patches and updates for IBM Tivoli Storage Manager. Organizations should immediately upgrade to versions that have addressed this race condition, specifically targeting the patch levels mentioned in the vulnerability description. System administrators should implement strict access controls to limit local user privileges where possible, reducing the attack surface for this type of exploit. Monitoring for unusual privilege escalation activities and implementing proper logging of TSM client operations can help detect potential exploitation attempts. Additionally, organizations should conduct comprehensive vulnerability assessments to identify all systems running affected TSM client versions and ensure that proper patch management procedures are in place. The remediation process should include thorough testing of patched versions in non-production environments before deployment to ensure compatibility with existing backup and storage management workflows. Security teams should also consider implementing network segmentation and access controls to limit local system access for users who do not require administrative privileges.