CVE-2016-9795 in Common Services
Summary
by MITRE
The casrvc program in CA Common Services, as used in CA Client Automation 12.8, 12.9, and 14.0; CA SystemEDGE 5.8.2 and 5.9; CA Systems Performance for Infrastructure Managers 12.8 and 12.9; CA Universal Job Management Agent 11.2; CA Virtual Assurance for Infrastructure Managers 12.8 and 12.9; CA Workload Automation AE 11, 11.3, 11.3.5, and 11.3.6 on AIX, HP-UX, Linux, and Solaris allows local users to modify arbitrary files and consequently gain root privileges via vectors related to insufficient validation.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/15/2026
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-9795 resides within the casrvc program component of CA Common Services, a critical infrastructure management suite that spans multiple CA products including Client Automation, SystemEDGE, and various performance monitoring solutions. This flaw specifically affects versions 12.8, 12.9, and 14.0 of CA Client Automation, along with corresponding versions of related products across multiple operating systems including AIX, HP-UX, Linux, and Solaris. The vulnerability represents a significant security weakness that originates from inadequate input validation mechanisms within the service execution framework, creating a pathway for privilege escalation attacks.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient validation of file paths and access controls within the casrvc program execution environment. Local attackers can exploit this weakness by manipulating file system references to gain unauthorized access to system resources that should normally be restricted to privileged users. The flaw operates through a classic privilege escalation vector where the service process executes with elevated privileges but fails to properly validate the integrity of file operations that could be manipulated by local users. This allows attackers to redirect file operations to arbitrary locations and modify system-critical files, effectively bypassing normal access controls that would typically prevent such modifications.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple local privilege escalation, as it provides attackers with the ability to modify system files that could compromise the integrity of the entire infrastructure management platform. Once root privileges are obtained through this vector, attackers can manipulate system configurations, install malicious software, modify security policies, or establish persistent access points within the environment. The vulnerability affects multiple CA products that are commonly deployed in enterprise environments, potentially creating widespread impact across organizations that utilize these management tools. This type of vulnerability is particularly dangerous in environments where CA Common Services components are deployed with elevated privileges and where local access to systems is not strictly controlled.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2016-9795 should focus on immediate patch application from CA Technologies, which would address the insufficient validation mechanisms within the casrvc program. Organizations should also implement strict access controls to limit local user privileges on systems running affected CA products, particularly disabling unnecessary local accounts and ensuring that only authorized personnel have access to these systems. Network segmentation and monitoring should be enhanced to detect anomalous file modification patterns that could indicate exploitation attempts. From a compliance perspective, this vulnerability aligns with CWE-22 (Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory) and represents a critical weakness in the principle of least privilege, as outlined in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under privilege escalation techniques. System administrators should also consider implementing file integrity monitoring solutions to detect unauthorized modifications to critical system files that could result from exploitation of this vulnerability.