CVE-2015-0136 in PowerVC
Summary
by MITRE
powervc-iso-import in IBM PowerVC 1.2.0.x before 1.2.0.4 and 1.2.1.x before 1.2.2 places an access token on the command line during IVM and PowerKVM management, which allows local users to obtain sensitive information by listing the process.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/15/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2015-0136 affects IBM PowerVC versions 1.2.0.x prior to 1.2.0.4 and 1.2.1.x prior to 1.2.2, specifically within the powervc-iso-import component. This flaw represents a critical security weakness that exposes sensitive authentication tokens through command line arguments, creating an avenue for unauthorized information disclosure. The vulnerability resides in how the system handles authentication tokens during virtual machine management operations, particularly when interacting with IVM and PowerKVM environments.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from improper handling of access tokens within command line parameters. When the powervc-iso-import utility executes management operations, it embeds authentication tokens directly into the command line arguments rather than utilizing secure token storage mechanisms. This practice violates fundamental security principles for credential handling and creates a persistent exposure window where any local user with process listing privileges can access these tokens through standard system monitoring tools. The command line interface approach effectively stores sensitive information in plaintext within process memory and system logs, making it accessible to processes running with equivalent privileges.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, creating potential attack vectors for privilege escalation and lateral movement within affected environments. Local users who can execute process listing commands such as ps or similar utilities can directly observe these tokens in command line arguments, potentially gaining access to administrative credentials for PowerVC management systems. This exposure enables attackers to perform unauthorized virtual machine operations, modify system configurations, and potentially access sensitive data within the PowerVC environment. The vulnerability is particularly concerning in multi-tenant or shared hosting environments where multiple users may have local access to the same systems.
Security controls and industry standards such as CWE-255 and CWE-798 directly relate to this vulnerability, as it represents improper handling of credentials and insecure storage of sensitive information. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this under credential access techniques, specifically targeting the use of process discovery to extract credentials from command line arguments. Organizations implementing IBM PowerVC should immediately apply the vendor-provided patches to address this vulnerability, which typically involve modifying the command line argument handling to use secure token storage mechanisms. Additionally, system administrators should implement process monitoring and privilege controls to limit local access to critical system processes, while conducting regular audits to ensure sensitive information is not exposed through command line parameters. The remediation process should include comprehensive security reviews of all command line argument handling within the PowerVC environment to identify and address similar credential exposure issues throughout the system.