CVE-2015-7430 in Spectrum Scale
Summary
by MITRE
The Hadoop connector 1.1.1, 2.4, 2.5, and 2.7.0-0 before 2.7.0-3 for IBM Spectrum Scale and General Parallel File System (GPFS) allows local users to read or write to arbitrary GPFS data via unspecified vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/26/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2015-7430 affects the Hadoop connector versions 1.1.1, 2.4, 2.5, and 2.7.0-0 before 2.7.0-3 when integrated with IBM Spectrum Scale and General Parallel File System GPFS. This represents a critical security flaw that enables local attackers to bypass normal access controls and directly interact with GPFS data stores through unspecified attack vectors. The issue stems from insufficient validation mechanisms within the connector implementation that fails to properly restrict file system access operations, creating a pathway for unauthorized data manipulation.
The technical flaw manifests as a privilege escalation and data exposure vulnerability that operates at the file system level rather than at the network or application layer. Attackers with local access to systems running these vulnerable connector versions can exploit the weakness to read or write arbitrary GPFS data, effectively circumventing the normal file system permissions and access controls that should protect sensitive data. This vulnerability is categorized under CWE-269 Privilege Escalation and CWE-284 Improper Access Control, representing a fundamental breakdown in the security model that governs data access within the GPFS environment.
The operational impact of CVE-2015-7430 is significant for organizations relying on IBM Spectrum Scale and GPFS for their data storage infrastructure. Local attackers can potentially access confidential data, modify critical system files, or disrupt data integrity across the entire GPFS namespace. This vulnerability undermines the core security assumptions of the file system, as it allows unauthorized local users to perform operations that should be restricted to privileged administrators or authorized applications. The attack surface extends beyond simple data theft to include potential system compromise and data corruption scenarios that could affect business continuity and regulatory compliance.
Organizations should immediately implement mitigations including applying the vendor-provided patches for the Hadoop connector versions affected by this vulnerability, specifically upgrading to version 2.7.0-3 or later. System administrators should also conduct thorough security assessments to identify any systems running vulnerable versions and ensure proper access controls are implemented at the operating system level. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1068 Privilege Escalation and T1070 Indicator Removal on Host, as attackers could potentially hide their activities while exploiting this flaw. Additionally, organizations should review their GPFS access control policies and implement monitoring for unauthorized file system access patterns that could indicate exploitation attempts.