CVE-2014-8920 in i Access
Summary
by MITRE
Buffer overflow in the Data Transfer Program in IBM i Access 5770-XE1 5R4, 6.1, and 7.1 on Windows allows local users to gain privileges via unspecified vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/19/2017
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-8920 represents a critical buffer overflow flaw within the Data Transfer Program component of IBM i Access software versions 5R4, 6.1, and 7.1 running on Windows platforms. This issue resides in the data transfer functionality that enables communication between IBM i systems and Windows environments, creating a potential pathway for privilege escalation attacks. The vulnerability's classification as a buffer overflow aligns with CWE-121, which specifically addresses stack-based buffer overflow conditions that can lead to arbitrary code execution and privilege elevation. The affected IBM i Access software serves as a bridge for enterprise data integration, making this vulnerability particularly concerning for organizations relying on seamless system interoperability.
The technical exploitation of this buffer overflow occurs when the Data Transfer Program processes incoming data without proper bounds checking, allowing an attacker to overwrite adjacent memory locations in the program's execution stack. This flaw enables local users to manipulate program execution flow and potentially execute malicious code with elevated privileges. The unspecified vectors mentioned in the description suggest that multiple attack surfaces within the data transfer functionality could be leveraged, including malformed data inputs, specific command sequences, or improper parameter handling during data transmission processes. The vulnerability's impact extends beyond simple local privilege escalation as it can potentially allow attackers to bypass system security controls and gain unauthorized access to sensitive enterprise data.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability poses significant risks to enterprise environments that utilize IBM i Access for critical business operations and data integration. Organizations running affected versions of the software face potential compromise of their entire data transfer infrastructure, which may include financial systems, inventory management, and customer databases. The local privilege escalation aspect means that even if an attacker initially gains access with limited user privileges, they could potentially elevate their access level to administrative rights, thereby gaining control over the entire system. This vulnerability directly impacts the CIA triad by compromising confidentiality through potential data exfiltration, integrity through possible data manipulation, and availability through potential system disruption.
The mitigation strategies for CVE-2014-8920 should prioritize immediate software updates from IBM, as the vendor would have released patches addressing the specific buffer overflow conditions. Organizations should implement network segmentation to limit access to systems running affected IBM i Access versions and establish robust monitoring for anomalous data transfer activities. Security controls should include disabling unnecessary data transfer features, implementing strict input validation for all data entering the system, and conducting regular vulnerability assessments targeting enterprise integration tools. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under privilege escalation techniques, specifically targeting the use of software vulnerabilities to gain elevated system privileges. Organizations should also consider implementing application whitelisting controls to prevent exploitation of the buffer overflow through unauthorized code execution, while maintaining detailed audit logs of all data transfer operations for forensic analysis purposes.