CVE-2016-2984 in Spectrum Scale
Summary
by MITRE
IBM Spectrum Scale 4.1.1.x before 4.1.1.8 and 4.2.x before 4.2.0.4 and General Parallel File System (GPFS) 3.5.x before 3.5.0.32 and 4.1.x before 4.1.1.8 allow local users to gain privileges via crafted command-line parameters to a /usr/lpp/mmfs/bin/ setuid program.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/08/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-2984 affects IBM Spectrum Scale and General Parallel File System implementations across multiple version ranges, presenting a critical privilege escalation risk for local attackers. This issue stems from improper input validation within setuid programs located in the /usr/lpp/mmfs/bin/ directory, specifically within the GPFS framework that IBM Spectrum Scale is built upon. The flaw enables malicious local users to manipulate command-line parameters passed to these privileged executables, ultimately allowing them to elevate their privileges from regular user level to root access.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through the manipulation of command-line arguments passed to setuid programs that handle file system operations within the GPFS architecture. These programs, designed with elevated privileges to perform system-level operations, fail to properly sanitize or validate input parameters before processing them, creating a path for attackers to inject malicious commands or parameters that can be executed with root privileges. The vulnerability specifically impacts versions 4.1.1.x before 4.1.1.8, 4.2.x before 4.2.0.4, 3.5.x before 3.5.0.32, and 4.1.x before 4.1.1.8, indicating a widespread issue affecting the core file system management components.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability represents a severe security risk that can lead to complete system compromise when exploited by local attackers. The privilege escalation allows attackers to bypass normal access controls, potentially enabling them to modify critical system files, install malware, access sensitive data, or establish persistent backdoors within the affected systems. The local nature of the attack means that any user with access to the system can potentially exploit this vulnerability, making it particularly dangerous in multi-user environments or shared computing resources. This vulnerability directly maps to CWE-20, which describes improper input validation, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1068 for privilege escalation through local exploits.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including applying the vendor-provided patches and updates for IBM Spectrum Scale and GPFS versions affected by this vulnerability. System administrators should also consider implementing additional security controls such as monitoring for suspicious command-line parameter usage patterns, restricting access to setuid binaries where possible, and conducting thorough security audits of the affected file system components. The remediation process should involve comprehensive testing of the patched versions in staging environments before deployment to production systems, ensuring that the updates do not introduce compatibility issues with existing applications or system configurations. Additionally, organizations should review their access control policies and implement principle of least privilege measures to minimize the potential impact of such vulnerabilities in their environments.