CVE-2015-5043 in Security Guardium
Summary
by MITRE
diag in IBM Security Guardium 8.2 before p6015, 9.0 before p6015, 9.1, 9.5, and 10.0 before p6015 allows local users to obtain root access via unspecified key sequences.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/08/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2015-5043 affects IBM Security Guardium versions 8.2 through 10.0, specifically before patch levels p6015 for 8.2 and 9.0, and before p6015 for 10.0, along with all 9.1 and 9.5 versions. This represents a critical local privilege escalation flaw that enables attackers with local system access to escalate their privileges to root level. The vulnerability manifests through unspecified key sequences within the diag component of the security product, which is typically used for diagnostic and troubleshooting functions. The flaw exists in the handling of these key sequences, allowing local users to manipulate the system's privilege escalation mechanisms through direct input sequences that should not grant elevated access rights.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and privilege management within the diag utility component. When local users interact with the diag interface through specific key combinations, the system fails to properly validate these inputs against legitimate administrative sequences. This oversight creates a pathway for privilege escalation where unauthorized local users can execute commands with root privileges. The vulnerability is classified as a local privilege escalation issue, which means that the attacker must already have local access to the system but does not require network connectivity or remote exploitation capabilities. The flaw demonstrates poor adherence to principle of least privilege and secure coding practices, as the diagnostic interface does not properly enforce access controls for administrative functions.
The operational impact of CVE-2015-5043 is severe, particularly for organizations relying on IBM Security Guardium for database security monitoring and compliance enforcement. A successful exploitation of this vulnerability allows attackers to gain complete system control, potentially enabling them to access sensitive data, modify security configurations, or establish persistent backdoors. The affected versions include multiple major releases of IBM Security Guardium, indicating this was a widespread issue across the product line. Organizations with vulnerable systems face significant risk of data breaches, regulatory compliance violations, and potential compromise of their entire database security infrastructure. The vulnerability's local nature means that even if network-based protections are in place, local access by malicious users or compromised accounts could lead to complete system takeover.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2015-5043 should prioritize immediate patching of affected IBM Security Guardium versions to the latest available patches, specifically those released after p6015 for the affected versions. Organizations should implement strict access controls limiting local system access to only authorized personnel and establish monitoring for unusual diagnostic interface usage patterns. The remediation process should include comprehensive vulnerability assessments of all IBM Security Guardium installations across the organization, with particular attention to systems running the vulnerable versions. Security teams should also consider implementing additional logging and monitoring around diagnostic utility usage, as this vulnerability may be exploited through automated scripts or social engineering attacks targeting local system access. According to CWE standards, this vulnerability relates to CWE-284: Improper Access Control, and aligns with ATT&CK techniques involving privilege escalation through local exploitation. Organizations should also review their incident response procedures to ensure preparedness for potential exploitation of this type of vulnerability, as it represents a significant threat to database security infrastructure integrity.