CVE-2015-0179 in Domino
Summary
by MITRE
Notes System Diagnostic (NSD) in IBM Domino 8.5.x before 8.5.3 FP6 IF6 and 9.x before 9.0.1 FP3 IF1 allows local users to obtain the System privilege via unspecified vectors, aka SPR TCHL9SST8V.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/08/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2015-0179 affects IBM Domino's Notes System Diagnostic (NSD) component, specifically within versions 8.5.x prior to 8.5.3 FP6 IF6 and 9.x prior to 9.0.1 FP3 IF1. This issue represents a local privilege escalation vulnerability that enables attackers with local system access to escalate their privileges to system level, potentially gaining complete control over the affected Domino server. The vulnerability stems from insufficient privilege checking mechanisms within the NSD functionality, creating an avenue for unauthorized privilege elevation through unspecified attack vectors that remain undisclosed in the public record.
The technical flaw manifests in the NSD component's failure to properly validate or restrict privilege levels during diagnostic operations. When local users execute certain diagnostic functions, the system does not adequately verify whether the requesting user possesses the necessary authorization levels to perform privileged operations. This weakness creates a privilege escalation path where a standard local user can leverage the NSD functionality to obtain system-level privileges without proper authentication or authorization. The vulnerability operates at the kernel or core system level within Domino's architecture, making it particularly dangerous as it bypasses normal access controls and privilege boundaries that typically protect system-critical operations.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is significant for organizations relying on IBM Domino servers, as local attackers who have already gained system access can use this flaw to escalate their privileges and potentially gain complete system control. This escalation capability allows attackers to access sensitive system resources, modify critical configuration files, read confidential data, and potentially establish persistent backdoors or further compromise the network infrastructure. The vulnerability affects both Domino 8.5.x and 9.x server versions, creating a wide attack surface across multiple generations of the platform. Organizations with Domino servers running these vulnerable versions face increased risk of complete system compromise, especially in environments where local access might be obtained through various attack vectors such as physical access, compromised user accounts, or other initial footholds.
This vulnerability aligns with CWE-276, which covers improper privilege management, and demonstrates characteristics consistent with privilege escalation attacks in enterprise server environments. The attack pattern follows typical local privilege escalation methodologies where attackers exploit weaknesses in system call validation or access control mechanisms. Organizations should prioritize applying the vendor-provided fixes and patches for this vulnerability, which include the specific fix packs and interim fixes mentioned in the advisory. System administrators should also conduct comprehensive vulnerability assessments to identify any systems running vulnerable versions of IBM Domino and implement additional access controls or monitoring to detect potential exploitation attempts. The remediation process should include thorough testing of the patches in development environments before deployment to production systems to ensure compatibility with existing Domino configurations and applications.
The attack surface for this vulnerability extends beyond simple local privilege escalation, as it can serve as a stepping stone for more sophisticated attacks. Once an attacker achieves system-level privileges, they can manipulate the Domino server's core functionality, potentially affecting email services, database access, and other critical business applications hosted on the platform. This vulnerability particularly impacts organizations that maintain Domino servers in mission-critical roles, where a successful exploitation could result in data breaches, service disruption, or compliance violations. The lack of specific details about the exact attack vectors in the public description indicates that this vulnerability may be exploitable through multiple mechanisms, making it more challenging to defend against without proper patching and access controls. Organizations should also consider implementing additional security monitoring to detect unauthorized privilege escalation attempts and maintain detailed audit logs of diagnostic operations that could potentially be leveraged for privilege escalation.