CVE-2017-6894 in FlexNet Manager Suite
Summary
by MITRE • 03/30/2023
A vulnerability exists in FlexNet Manager Suite releases 2015 R2 SP3 and earlier (including FlexNet Manager Platform 9.2 and earlier) that affects the inventory gathering components and can be exploited by local users to perform certain actions with elevated privileges on the local system.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/20/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-6894 represents a privilege escalation flaw within FlexNet Manager Suite versions 2015 R2 SP3 and earlier, including the FlexNet Manager Platform 9.2 and earlier releases. This issue specifically targets the inventory gathering components of the software, which are responsible for collecting system information and managing asset data within enterprise environments. The vulnerability creates a security gap that allows local users to elevate their privileges and perform unauthorized actions on the local system, potentially compromising the integrity and confidentiality of the affected environment. The flaw exists in the way the inventory collection processes handle certain system interactions, creating opportunities for malicious actors to exploit the system's trust mechanisms.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from improper privilege handling within the FlexNet Manager Suite's inventory gathering modules. When the system performs inventory collection operations, it fails to properly validate or restrict the privileges of the executing user context. This allows a local attacker with standard user privileges to manipulate the inventory gathering process in such a way that elevated system privileges are either obtained or the system is tricked into executing commands with higher privilege levels. The vulnerability manifests through specific code paths in the software's execution flow where privilege checks are either missing or insufficiently enforced, creating a direct pathway for privilege escalation. This type of flaw commonly falls under CWE-276, which addresses improper privilege management, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1068, which covers privilege escalation through local exploitation.
The operational impact of CVE-2017-6894 extends beyond simple privilege escalation, as it can enable attackers to gain deeper system access and potentially move laterally within enterprise networks. Local privilege escalation vulnerabilities are particularly dangerous because they often serve as initial access points for more sophisticated attacks, allowing threat actors to establish persistent access or escalate their compromise to other systems. In enterprise environments where FlexNet Manager Suite is deployed, this vulnerability could enable attackers to modify system configurations, install malicious software, or access sensitive data that would otherwise be protected by proper access controls. The vulnerability affects organizations that rely on asset management solutions for inventory tracking, potentially exposing critical infrastructure to unauthorized modifications and data breaches.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should immediately implement mitigations including updating to versions of FlexNet Manager Suite that have addressed the privilege escalation issue, typically those released after 2017. System administrators should also consider implementing additional security controls such as restricting local user access to the inventory collection components, monitoring for suspicious privilege escalation attempts, and ensuring proper network segmentation to limit the potential impact of such vulnerabilities. The remediation process should include thorough testing of updated software to ensure that the patch does not introduce compatibility issues with existing inventory management workflows. Security teams should also conduct vulnerability assessments to identify any potential exploitation attempts that may have occurred prior to the implementation of mitigations, as this type of local privilege escalation vulnerability can be difficult to detect through conventional monitoring approaches.