CVE-2017-16882 in Icinga
Summary
by MITRE
Icinga Core through 1.14.0 initially executes bin/icinga as root but supports configuration options in which this file is owned by a non-root account (and similarly can have etc/icinga.cfg owned by a non-root account), which allows local users to gain privileges by leveraging access to this non-root account, a related issue to CVE-2017-14312. This also affects bin/icingastats, bin/ido2db, and bin/log2ido.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/11/2023
The vulnerability described in CVE-2017-16882 affects Icinga Core versions through 1.14.0 and represents a privilege escalation issue stemming from improper file ownership handling during the application's initialization process. The core problem manifests when the system executes the bin/icinga binary with root privileges initially, but subsequently allows configuration options that permit these critical files to be owned by non-root accounts. This design flaw creates a window of opportunity for local attackers who have access to a non-root account to exploit the system's privilege structure and elevate their privileges to root level.
This vulnerability operates through a specific sequence where the Icinga service starts with elevated privileges but then transitions to operate under less privileged accounts as configured. The issue is particularly concerning because it affects multiple binaries including bin/icingastats, bin/ido2db, and bin/log2ido, indicating a systemic problem rather than an isolated component. The flaw essentially allows attackers to manipulate the file ownership and execution environment to gain unauthorized root access, making it a significant concern for system administrators who rely on Icinga for network monitoring and infrastructure management.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-276, which addresses improper file permissions and insecure file handling practices. This weakness creates a scenario where the security model of the application is fundamentally compromised, as the transition from root to non-root execution context does not properly maintain security boundaries. The vulnerability also relates to ATT&CK technique T1068, which covers "Exploitation for Privilege Escalation" by demonstrating how local users can leverage system design flaws to obtain elevated privileges. The attack vector specifically targets the configuration flexibility that allows non-root ownership while maintaining root execution capabilities, creating a dangerous mismatch in privilege management.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple privilege escalation, as it affects the core monitoring infrastructure that organizations depend upon for system health and security monitoring. When local attackers can exploit this vulnerability, they gain complete control over the monitoring system, potentially allowing them to hide malicious activities, disable monitoring alerts, or manipulate system data. The affected binaries represent critical components of the Icinga ecosystem, with bin/icingastats handling statistics collection, bin/ido2db managing database integration, and bin/log2ido processing log data, all of which could be manipulated to serve attacker objectives.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including ensuring that all Icinga-related binaries and configuration files maintain proper ownership and permissions, restricting access to non-root accounts that might exploit this vulnerability, and considering upgrades to patched versions of Icinga Core. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of principle of least privilege enforcement and proper privilege separation in system design. System administrators should conduct comprehensive audits of their Icinga installations, verify file ownership across all affected binaries, and implement monitoring for unauthorized changes to critical system files. Additionally, organizations should consider implementing additional security controls such as file integrity monitoring and privilege management tools to detect and prevent exploitation attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates how seemingly minor configuration flexibility can create major security risks when not properly implemented with security in mind.