CVE-2016-1235 in OAR
Summary
by MITRE
The oarsh script in OAR before 2.5.7 allows remote authenticated users of a cluster to obtain sensitive information and possibly gain privileges via vectors related to OpenSSH options.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/16/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-1235 affects the oarsh script component within the OAR (Open Advanced Resource) cluster management system prior to version 2.5.7. This issue represents a significant security weakness that impacts the integrity and confidentiality of cluster environments where OAR is deployed. The vulnerability specifically targets the authentication and authorization mechanisms within the OpenSSH integration, creating potential attack vectors that could be exploited by authenticated users within the cluster network. The affected oarsh script serves as a bridge between cluster management operations and SSH-based communications, making it a critical component in the overall security posture of OAR systems.
The technical flaw manifests through improper handling of OpenSSH options within the oarsh script execution environment. Attackers with legitimate cluster authentication credentials can exploit this vulnerability to extract sensitive information that should remain confidential within the system. The flaw stems from insufficient input validation and sanitization of SSH parameters, allowing maliciously crafted options to be processed in ways that reveal system internals, user configurations, or other sensitive data. This vulnerability operates at the intersection of privilege escalation and information disclosure, where authenticated users can leverage the script's improper handling of SSH options to gain unauthorized access to information that should be restricted to authorized personnel only. The underlying mechanism involves the script's failure to properly isolate or validate SSH command-line arguments, creating opportunities for data leakage through command injection or parameter manipulation.
The operational impact of CVE-2016-1235 extends beyond simple information disclosure to potentially enable privilege escalation within cluster environments. When authenticated users can extract sensitive information, they may be able to identify system vulnerabilities, user credentials, or configuration details that facilitate further attacks. This vulnerability particularly affects HPC (High Performance Computing) clusters and distributed computing environments where OAR manages resource allocation and job scheduling. The attack surface includes scenarios where users with basic cluster access could escalate their privileges to gain administrative capabilities or access restricted system resources. The implications are particularly severe in environments where multiple users share the same cluster infrastructure, as the vulnerability could enable one user to compromise the security of other users or system components. This type of vulnerability directly violates the principle of least privilege and can undermine the entire security architecture of the cluster management system.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2016-1235 should focus on immediate patching of the OAR system to version 2.5.7 or later, which contains the necessary fixes for the oarsh script vulnerability. Organizations should also implement additional security controls including network segmentation to limit access to cluster management components, enhanced monitoring of SSH-related activities, and regular security audits of cluster configurations. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-20, which addresses improper input validation, and can be mapped to ATT&CK techniques involving privilege escalation and credential access through compromised system components. Security teams should establish strict access controls for cluster resources, implement comprehensive logging of SSH operations, and conduct regular penetration testing to identify similar vulnerabilities in other cluster management tools. Additionally, administrators should review and validate all SSH configurations within the cluster environment to ensure that parameter handling follows secure coding practices and that unnecessary options are not exposed to authenticated users. The remediation process should include thorough testing to ensure that the patch does not introduce compatibility issues with existing cluster operations while maintaining the security improvements necessary to protect against this specific vulnerability.