CVE-2017-4982 in Mainframe Enablers ResourcePak Base
Summary
by MITRE
EMC Mainframe Enablers ResourcePak Base versions 7.6.0, 8.0.0, and 8.1.0 contains a fix for a privilege management vulnerability that could potentially be exploited by malicious users to compromise the affected system.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/09/2017
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-4982 affects EMC Mainframe Enablers ResourcePak Base versions 7.6.0, 8.0.0, and 8.1.0, representing a critical privilege management flaw that exposes systems to potential compromise. This vulnerability falls under the broader category of privilege escalation issues that can undermine the security posture of mainframe environments where such systems are typically deployed. The affected EMC Mainframe Enablers ResourcePak Base components serve as essential infrastructure for mainframe operations and system management, making this vulnerability particularly concerning for enterprise environments that rely heavily on mainframe computing platforms.
The technical flaw manifests in the improper handling of privilege management mechanisms within the ResourcePak Base software, allowing malicious actors to potentially elevate their privileges beyond what is authorized. This type of vulnerability is classified as a privilege escalation issue and aligns with CWE-269, which specifically addresses "Improper Privilege Management" in software systems. The vulnerability enables attackers to gain unauthorized access to elevated system privileges that should be restricted to authorized administrators only, potentially allowing them to execute arbitrary commands, modify system configurations, or access sensitive data that would normally be protected.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple security compromise as it can lead to complete system takeover and unauthorized access to critical mainframe resources. Organizations using affected EMC Mainframe Enablers ResourcePak Base versions face significant risk of data breaches, system corruption, and potential disruption of business-critical mainframe operations. The nature of mainframe environments means that such compromises can affect large-scale enterprise operations, potentially impacting financial systems, customer data, and other mission-critical applications that depend on mainframe infrastructure. This vulnerability directly violates the principle of least privilege and can enable attackers to establish persistent access to sensitive systems.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-4982 should prioritize immediate patching of affected systems with the vendor-provided security updates. Organizations should conduct comprehensive inventory assessments to identify all instances of the affected ResourcePak Base versions and implement remediation procedures as outlined in the EMC security advisory. Network segmentation and access controls should be strengthened to limit exposure, while monitoring systems should be enhanced to detect potential exploitation attempts. This vulnerability demonstrates the importance of maintaining up-to-date security patches in enterprise environments and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1068 which covers "Exploitation for Privilege Escalation." Security teams should also implement comprehensive vulnerability management programs that include regular assessment of mainframe components and continuous monitoring for similar privilege management flaws that could potentially exist in other enterprise systems.