CVE-2015-2126 in HP-UX
Summary
by MITRE
Unspecified vulnerability in pppoec in HP HP-UX 11iv2 and 11iv3 allows local users to gain privileges by leveraging setuid permissions.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/28/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2015-2126 resides within the pppoec component of HP HP-UX operating systems version 11iv2 and 11iv3, representing a critical privilege escalation flaw that exploits the inherent setuid permissions of the affected binary. This issue manifests as an unspecified vulnerability that enables local attackers to elevate their privileges from standard user level to root access, fundamentally compromising system security. The pppoec utility is designed to handle point-to-point protocol over ethernet connections, but its implementation contains a flaw that allows unauthorized privilege elevation through improper access controls.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability leverages the setuid bit functionality that is typically employed to grant specific programs elevated privileges for legitimate system operations. In this case, the pppoec binary executes with root permissions due to its setuid nature, but contains a flaw in its input validation or privilege handling mechanism that allows local users to manipulate the program's execution flow. This flaw could involve improper argument handling, buffer overflow conditions, or other code execution vulnerabilities that bypass the normal privilege checking mechanisms. The vulnerability exists at the intersection of operating system security model implementation and application-level privilege management, creating a pathway for unauthorized privilege escalation.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe as it provides local attackers with complete system control without requiring external network access or complex exploitation techniques. Once exploited, the attacker gains root privileges that enable them to modify system files, install malicious software, create new user accounts, and access all system resources. This vulnerability undermines the fundamental security model of HP-UX systems, as it allows attackers to bypass the normal access controls that should prevent local users from gaining administrative privileges. The affected systems become vulnerable to persistent attacks where the attacker can maintain system control even after rebooting, as the privilege escalation mechanism can be repeatedly exploited.
Security professionals should implement immediate mitigations including applying the vendor-provided patches and updates for HP-UX 11iv2 and 11iv3 systems, reviewing and restricting setuid permissions on the pppoec binary, and monitoring system logs for suspicious privilege escalation attempts. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-269: Improper Privilege Management, which addresses issues where programs fail to properly manage access controls and privilege levels. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to privilege escalation techniques under T1068: Exploitation for Privilege Escalation, specifically targeting local privilege escalation through setuid binary exploitation. Organizations should also consider implementing additional security controls such as mandatory access controls, privilege monitoring, and regular security assessments to prevent exploitation of similar vulnerabilities in other system components.