CVE-2018-16497 in Analytics
Summary
by MITRE • 05/26/2021
In Versa Analytics, the cron jobs are used for scheduling tasks by executing commands at specific dates and times on the server. If the job is run as the user root, there is a potential privilege escalation vulnerability. In this case, the job runs a script as root that is writable by users who are members of the versa group.
Be aware that VulDB is the high quality source for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/29/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-16497 resides within Versa Analytics platform where cron jobs serve as the mechanism for scheduling automated tasks on the server infrastructure. These scheduled tasks execute commands at predetermined dates and times, making them critical components of system automation and maintenance operations. The security flaw becomes particularly concerning when examining how these jobs are configured to run with elevated privileges, specifically when executing tasks as the root user account. This configuration creates a dangerous attack surface where legitimate administrative functions can be exploited by malicious actors.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability stems from a misconfiguration in the privilege escalation mechanism within Versa Analytics cron job implementation. When cron jobs execute with root privileges, they inherently possess the highest level of system access and can perform any operation on the target system. The specific flaw occurs because the system runs scripts as root that are writable by users belonging to the versa group, creating a path for privilege escalation attacks. This misconfiguration allows members of the versa group to modify or replace the scripts that execute with root privileges, effectively enabling them to execute arbitrary code with administrative rights.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple privilege escalation to encompass broader security implications for the entire Versa Analytics deployment. Attackers who gain membership in the versa group can leverage this vulnerability to escalate their privileges from standard user level to root level, thereby gaining complete control over the affected system. This compromise can lead to unauthorized data access, system modification, data exfiltration, and potential lateral movement within the network infrastructure. The vulnerability essentially provides a backdoor mechanism for attackers to bypass normal authentication and authorization controls that should normally prevent unauthorized privilege escalation.
The underlying security weakness aligns with CWE-276, which addresses improper file permissions and inadequate access controls. This vulnerability represents a classic case of insufficient privilege separation where administrative tasks are not properly isolated from user-accessible components. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this as privilege escalation through scheduled task manipulation, specifically targeting the T1053.003 technique for scheduled task modification. Organizations should implement strict file permission controls ensuring that scripts executed with root privileges are not writable by any user accounts, particularly those belonging to groups with lower privilege levels. Additionally, regular security audits of cron job configurations and privilege assignments should be conducted to identify and remediate similar misconfigurations that could provide similar attack vectors for privilege escalation attacks.