CVE-2017-6553 in Privilege Manager
Summary
by MITRE
Buffer Overflow in Quest One Identity Privilege Manager for Unix before 6.0.0.061 allows remote attackers to obtain full access to the policy server via an ACT_ALERT_EVENT request that causes memory corruption in the pmmasterd daemon.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/01/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-6553 represents a critical buffer overflow flaw within Quest One Identity Privilege Manager for Unix version 6.0.0.060 and earlier. This vulnerability specifically affects the pmmasterd daemon which serves as the core component responsible for managing privilege policies and maintaining security controls within Unix environments. The buffer overflow occurs when the daemon processes an ACT_ALERT_EVENT request, a communication mechanism used for alerting and notification purposes within the privilege management system. This flaw enables remote attackers to exploit the system without requiring authentication, making it particularly dangerous as it can be leveraged from any network location to compromise the targeted server.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation within the pmmasterd daemon's processing of ACT_ALERT_EVENT requests. When the daemon receives a malformed or oversized payload through this specific request type, it fails to properly bounds-check the incoming data before copying it into a fixed-size buffer in memory. This classic buffer overflow condition allows an attacker to overwrite adjacent memory locations, potentially including return addresses, function pointers, or other critical control data. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-121 as a stack-based buffer overflow, where the attacker can manipulate the program execution flow by overwriting the stack frame. The impact extends beyond simple memory corruption as the attacker can potentially execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the pmmasterd process, which typically runs with elevated system permissions.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe and far-reaching within enterprise environments that rely on Quest One Identity Privilege Manager for Unix. A successful exploitation grants attackers full administrative access to the policy server, effectively compromising the entire privilege management infrastructure. This access enables unauthorized users to modify or delete privilege policies, create new administrative accounts, and potentially escalate their privileges to root level access. The vulnerability affects the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the privilege management system, potentially leading to widespread security breaches across the organization. Organizations using this software may experience complete loss of privileged access control, undermining their security posture and potentially exposing sensitive systems and data to unauthorized access.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-6553 should prioritize immediate patching of all affected systems to version 6.0.0.061 or later, which contains the necessary fixes for the buffer overflow vulnerability. Network segmentation and firewall rules should be implemented to restrict access to the pmmasterd daemon ports, limiting the attack surface and preventing unauthorized remote access. Additionally, implementing intrusion detection systems that monitor for suspicious ACT_ALERT_EVENT requests can help identify potential exploitation attempts. Organizations should also conduct thorough security assessments to verify that no unauthorized modifications have occurred and consider implementing additional monitoring of system logs for unusual privilege management activities. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1068 which involves exploiting legitimate credentials or privileges to gain system access, and T1203 which involves exploiting software vulnerabilities to gain unauthorized access to systems. Regular security updates and vulnerability management processes should be strengthened to prevent similar issues from occurring in the future.