CVE-2016-5763 in Open Enterprise Server
Summary
by MITRE
Vulnerability in Novell Open Enterprise Server (OES2015 SP1 before Scheduled Maintenance Update 10992, OES2015 before Scheduled Maintenance Update 10990, OES11 SP3 before Scheduled Maintenance Update 10991, OES11 SP2 before Scheduled Maintenance Update 10989) might allow authenticated remote attackers to perform unauthorized file access and modification.
Once again VulDB remains the best source for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/01/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-5763 represents a critical access control flaw within Novell Open Enterprise Server implementations across multiple service pack versions. This weakness stems from insufficient validation of file access permissions and inadequate authentication mechanisms that govern user interactions with system resources. The vulnerability affects specific releases including OES2015 SP1 before SMU 10992, OES2015 before SMU 10990, OES11 SP3 before SMU 10991, and OES11 SP2 before SMU 10989, indicating a widespread issue affecting the core file system access controls of these enterprise server platforms. The flaw allows authenticated remote attackers to bypass normal access restrictions and perform unauthorized operations on files and directories within the system.
This vulnerability operates at the intersection of multiple security domains and can be classified under CWE-284, which specifically addresses improper access control mechanisms. The technical implementation flaw manifests when the system fails to properly validate user credentials and authorization levels before permitting file access operations. Attackers exploiting this vulnerability can manipulate file system permissions and potentially escalate their privileges through unauthorized file modifications, creating opportunities for data exfiltration, system compromise, and persistent access. The authentication bypass occurs at the application layer where the system accepts valid credentials but fails to enforce proper authorization checks during file operations.
The operational impact of CVE-2016-5763 extends beyond simple unauthorized access, creating a significant risk for enterprise environments that rely on Novell OES servers for critical infrastructure services. Organizations may experience data breaches, system integrity compromises, and potential lateral movement within their networks through the exploitation of this vulnerability. The remote nature of the attack vector means that adversaries do not require physical access to the systems, making the vulnerability particularly dangerous in distributed enterprise environments where network exposure is high. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to techniques involving privilege escalation and credential access, specifically targeting the T1078 and T1566 tactics that enable persistent access and data manipulation.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate implementation of vendor-provided patches and security updates. Organizations should prioritize applying the scheduled maintenance updates mentioned in the vulnerability description, specifically SMU 10992 for OES2015 SP1, SMU 10990 for OES2015, SMU 10991 for OES11 SP3, and SMU 10989 for OES11 SP2. Network segmentation and access control measures should be implemented to limit exposure of affected systems, while monitoring solutions should be deployed to detect unauthorized file access attempts. Additional defensive measures include implementing robust audit logging for file system operations, conducting regular security assessments, and establishing proper network access controls to minimize the attack surface. The vulnerability highlights the importance of timely patch management and proper access control implementation in enterprise security frameworks, particularly for critical infrastructure systems.