CVE-2015-4974 in General Parallel File System
Summary
by MITRE
IBM General Parallel File System (GPFS) 3.5.x before 3.5.0.27 and 4.1.x before 4.1.1.2 and Spectrum Scale 4.1.1.x before 4.1.1.2 allow local users to obtain root privileges for command execution via unspecified vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/25/2022
IBM General Parallel File System GPFS represents a distributed file system architecture widely deployed in enterprise environments for high-performance computing workloads. The vulnerability identified as CVE-2015-4974 affects multiple version streams including 3.5.x prior to 3.5.0.27, 4.1.x prior to 4.1.1.2, and Spectrum Scale 4.1.1.x prior to 4.1.1.2. This security flaw enables local attackers to escalate their privileges from standard user accounts to root-level access within the system. The unspecified vectors suggest that the vulnerability may involve multiple attack surfaces within the GPFS implementation, potentially including privilege escalation mechanisms, improper access controls, or insecure command execution pathways. The impact of such a vulnerability is severe as it allows attackers to gain complete system control without requiring network access or remote exploitation capabilities. This type of local privilege escalation vulnerability aligns with CWE-269 which describes improper privileges assigned to a resource, and may also relate to CWE-276 which covers incorrect permissions for a resource. The attack vector typically involves a local user executing specific commands or manipulating system processes to exploit the underlying flaw and achieve root access.
The operational implications of this vulnerability extend beyond simple privilege escalation as it fundamentally compromises the security model of the distributed file system. Organizations utilizing GPFS for critical data storage and processing workloads face significant risk when this vulnerability exists in their environment. The vulnerability affects systems where GPFS is installed and running, potentially exposing data integrity and availability across the entire cluster. Attackers could leverage this privilege escalation to modify file permissions, access restricted data, manipulate system configurations, or establish persistent access points within the cluster. This vulnerability also presents challenges for compliance requirements and audit processes as it could allow unauthorized access to sensitive data that should be protected by proper access controls. The attack pattern typically follows local exploitation methodologies where attackers already have access to the system through legitimate means such as user accounts or shared access, making detection more difficult.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2015-4974 should prioritize immediate patch deployment as the primary defense mechanism. IBM released security updates for all affected versions, and organizations must ensure these patches are applied across all GPFS installations to eliminate the vulnerability. System administrators should also implement additional security controls including regular privilege reviews, monitoring for unauthorized privilege escalation attempts, and ensuring that only authorized users have access to systems running GPFS. Network segmentation and access control measures can help limit the impact if an attacker does gain local access, while comprehensive logging and audit capabilities should be enabled to detect exploitation attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of maintaining current security patches for enterprise storage systems and highlights the risks associated with running outdated software versions in production environments. Organizations should also consider implementing the principle of least privilege for GPFS service accounts and ensuring that all system components are regularly assessed for security vulnerabilities. This case represents a typical scenario where local privilege escalation vulnerabilities can severely compromise system security models and underscores the need for comprehensive security maintenance practices across all enterprise infrastructure components.