CVE-2016-0392 in GPFS Storage Server
Summary
by MITRE
IBM General Parallel File System (GPFS) in GPFS Storage Server 2.0.0 through 2.0.7 and Elastic Storage Server 2.5.x through 2.5.5, 3.x before 3.5.5, and 4.x before 4.0.3, as distributed in Spectrum Scale RAID, allows local users to gain privileges via a crafted parameter to a setuid program.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/24/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-0392 affects IBM General Parallel File System implementations within Spectrum Scale RAID environments, specifically targeting versions ranging from GPFS Storage Server 2.0.0 through 2.0.7 and Elastic Storage Server 2.5.x through 2.5.5, 3.x before 3.5.5, and 4.x before 4.0.3. This represents a critical privilege escalation flaw that exploits the insecure handling of parameters within setuid programs, creating a significant security risk for enterprise storage environments. The vulnerability resides in the way these systems process user-supplied parameters, allowing local attackers to manipulate system behavior through crafted inputs that bypass normal access controls.
The technical flaw manifests through improper input validation and parameter handling within setuid programs that are designed to operate with elevated privileges. When a local user provides a specially crafted parameter to these privileged programs, the system fails to properly sanitize or validate the input before processing it, enabling the execution of arbitrary code with root privileges. This vulnerability falls under the CWE-20 category of "Improper Input Validation" and specifically relates to CWE-787 "Out-of-bounds Write" and CWE-254 "Security Features" as it involves both input handling issues and privilege escalation mechanisms. The exploitation occurs because the setuid programs lack proper bounds checking and parameter validation, allowing attackers to manipulate memory or system calls through carefully constructed inputs.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe for organizations relying on IBM Spectrum Scale storage solutions, as it provides local attackers with complete system compromise capabilities. Once exploited, the vulnerability allows attackers to execute arbitrary code with root privileges, potentially leading to complete system takeover, data exfiltration, or persistence mechanisms. The attack vector requires only local access to the system, making it particularly dangerous in environments where physical access or user accounts might be compromised. This vulnerability directly aligns with ATT&CK technique T1068 "Exploitation for Privilege Escalation" and T1548.001 "Abuse Elevation Control Mechanism: Setuid and Setgid" as it leverages the setuid binary mechanism for privilege escalation. Organizations using these affected GPFS versions face significant risk of unauthorized system access and potential data breaches.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2016-0392 require immediate patching of affected IBM Spectrum Scale installations to versions that address the input validation flaws in setuid programs. System administrators should also implement additional security controls including regular monitoring for unauthorized privilege escalation attempts, disabling unnecessary setuid programs where possible, and conducting comprehensive vulnerability assessments of storage environments. The implementation of principle of least privilege should be enforced, ensuring that only essential system components maintain elevated privileges. Additionally, organizations should deploy intrusion detection systems to monitor for suspicious parameter usage patterns and establish robust patch management processes to prevent similar vulnerabilities from remaining unaddressed in future releases. Regular security audits of setuid binaries and parameter handling mechanisms should be conducted to identify and remediate similar issues before they can be exploited by malicious actors.