CVE-2016-9868 in ScaleIO
Summary
by MITRE
An issue was discovered in EMC ScaleIO versions before 2.0.1.1. A low-privileged local attacker may cause a denial-of-service by generating a kernel panic in the SCINI driver using IOCTL calls which may render the ScaleIO Data Client (SDC) server unavailable until the next reboot.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/20/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-9868 represents a critical local privilege escalation and denial-of-service weakness within EMC ScaleIO storage virtualization software. This flaw exists in versions prior to 2.0.1.1 and specifically targets the SCINI (ScaleIO Client Interface) driver component that facilitates communication between the ScaleIO Data Client and the underlying storage infrastructure. The vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and improper handling of IOCTL (Input/Output Control) commands within the kernel-space driver, creating a pathway for malicious actors with low privileges to exploit the system.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the manipulation of IOCTL calls that are designed to interface with the SCINI driver. When a low-privileged user executes specifically crafted IOCTL requests, the driver fails to properly validate the incoming parameters and memory references, leading to a kernel panic condition. This kernel panic represents a fundamental failure in the operating system's kernel execution environment, causing the entire system to become unresponsive and ultimately requiring a complete reboot to restore functionality. The vulnerability operates at the kernel level, making it particularly dangerous as it bypasses standard user-space security mechanisms and can affect the stability of the entire storage client infrastructure.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple service disruption, as it can severely compromise the availability and reliability of storage services within environments utilizing EMC ScaleIO. When a kernel panic occurs, the ScaleIO Data Client server becomes completely unavailable, potentially affecting multiple applications and services that depend on storage access. This denial-of-service condition can persist until manual system reboot is performed, creating significant downtime and operational disruption. The vulnerability is particularly concerning in enterprise environments where storage availability is critical for business operations, as it can lead to cascading failures affecting data availability and application performance across the entire infrastructure.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2016-9868 should prioritize immediate patching of affected EMC ScaleIO installations to version 2.0.1.1 or later, which contains the necessary fixes for the IOCTL validation and kernel panic handling issues. System administrators should implement comprehensive monitoring of system logs and kernel messages to detect potential exploitation attempts, as the occurrence of kernel panics will be logged and can serve as early warning indicators. Additionally, access controls should be strictly enforced to limit local system access to authorized personnel only, reducing the attack surface for potential exploitation. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-119, which addresses weaknesses in memory handling, and can be classified under ATT&CK technique T1068, which involves local privilege escalation through kernel exploits. Organizations should also consider implementing network segmentation and privilege separation measures to minimize the potential impact if local system compromise occurs, ensuring that even if an attacker gains access to a system, they cannot leverage this vulnerability to compromise other systems within the environment.