CVE-2015-2123 in NonStop Safeguard Security
Summary
by MITRE
Unspecified vulnerability in HP NonStop Safeguard Security Software H06.x, L15.02, and J06.x before J06.19 allows remote authenticated users to gain privileges by leveraging Expand access.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/31/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2015-2123 represents a critical privilege escalation flaw within HP NonStop Safeguard Security Software across multiple version ranges including H06.x L15.02 and J06.x before J06.19. This unspecified vulnerability specifically manifests when authenticated remote users exploit Expand access mechanisms to elevate their privileges within the system. The affected software operates within the secure operating environment of HP NonStop systems, which are designed for high availability and mission-critical applications where security controls must be robust and reliable. The vulnerability exists in the access control implementation of the security software, potentially allowing attackers who already possess valid credentials to bypass authorization checks and assume elevated privileges.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from improper handling of access control mechanisms during expand operations within the Safeguard Security Software framework. When users with valid authentication credentials attempt to perform expand operations, the system fails to properly validate or enforce privilege boundaries, creating an opportunity for unauthorized privilege elevation. This flaw falls under the category of improper privilege management and access control violations, aligning with CWE-276 which addresses incorrect access control. The vulnerability demonstrates a classic case of insufficient authorization checks where the expand functionality does not adequately verify whether the authenticated user has proper permissions to execute the requested privilege escalation operations. The remote aspect of this vulnerability means that attackers do not need physical access to the system, making it particularly concerning for networked environments where the software may be exposed to external threats.
The operational impact of CVE-2015-2123 extends beyond simple privilege escalation, potentially enabling attackers to compromise the entire security infrastructure of systems running affected versions of HP NonStop Safeguard Security Software. Once elevated privileges are obtained, attackers could modify security policies, access sensitive data, disable security controls, or establish persistent access to the system. This vulnerability directly affects the integrity and confidentiality of the security framework, as it allows attackers to subvert the very controls designed to protect the system. The implications are particularly severe for organizations relying on HP NonStop systems for critical operations, where the compromise of security software could lead to cascading failures in system protection. From an attack perspective, this vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1068 which involves exploiting vulnerabilities in operating systems or applications to gain elevated privileges, and T1566 which encompasses social engineering attacks that may involve gaining initial access through valid credentials.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on immediate patch deployment as provided by HP to address the specific privilege escalation flaw in the Safeguard Security Software. Organizations should also implement network segmentation to limit access to systems running affected software, particularly ensuring that only authorized administrative users can reach these critical security components. Additional monitoring should be implemented to detect unusual expand operations or privilege escalation attempts within the system logs. Security teams should conduct comprehensive audits of access controls and privilege assignments to identify any potential exploitation that may have already occurred. The vulnerability highlights the importance of maintaining up-to-date security software and implementing defense-in-depth strategies that include multiple layers of protection beyond just the primary security controls. Organizations should also consider implementing privileged access management solutions that can help prevent unauthorized privilege escalation even when traditional access controls fail. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be performed to identify similar issues in other security software components that may be vulnerable to similar privilege escalation attacks.