CVE-2017-3763 in LXCA
Summary
by MITRE
An attacker who obtains access to the location where the LXCA file system is stored may be able to access credentials of local LXCA accounts in LXCA versions earlier than 1.3.2.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/18/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-3763 represents a critical security flaw in the Lenovo XClarity Administrator (LXCA) software ecosystem, specifically affecting versions prior to 1.3.2. This issue stems from inadequate access controls and credential storage mechanisms within the LXCA file system architecture, creating a scenario where unauthorized individuals with physical or network access to the storage location can potentially extract sensitive authentication information. The vulnerability manifests when an attacker gains access to the LXCA file system storage area, which typically contains configuration files and credential repositories that are not properly secured against unauthorized access attempts.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability lies in the improper implementation of file system access controls and credential handling within the LXCA software framework. When LXCA stores local account credentials, it fails to adequately protect these sensitive data elements through proper encryption mechanisms or access restriction policies. This weakness creates a direct path for credential theft, as the attacker can directly access the file system location where credentials are stored without proper authentication or authorization checks. The flaw essentially allows for privilege escalation through unauthorized data access, where the attacker can extract authentication tokens, passwords, or other credential material that would normally be protected by proper security controls.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple credential theft, as it fundamentally undermines the security posture of systems managed through LXCA. Organizations using affected versions face significant risk of unauthorized access to their managed infrastructure, potentially allowing attackers to escalate privileges and gain control over multiple systems within the managed environment. This vulnerability directly affects the principle of least privilege and can lead to complete compromise of the managed infrastructure, particularly when combined with other attack vectors or when the LXCA system serves as a central management point for enterprise environments. The exposure of local account credentials can enable attackers to move laterally within networks and maintain persistent access to critical systems.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-3763 primarily focus on immediate version upgrades to LXCA 1.3.2 or later, which contain the necessary security patches and access control improvements. Organizations should implement comprehensive access controls for LXCA file system locations, including proper file permissions, encryption of credential storage, and network segmentation to limit access to these critical areas. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-284 which addresses improper access control issues, and can be mapped to ATT&CK technique T1078 for valid accounts and T1566 for credential access, highlighting the multi-layered attack surface this vulnerability creates. Security teams should conduct thorough assessments of their LXCA implementations, review file system permissions, and implement monitoring for unauthorized access attempts to the LXCA storage areas to prevent exploitation of this vulnerability.