CVE-2018-1903 in Sterling Connect:Direct for UNIX
Summary
by MITRE
IBM Sterling Connect:Direct for UNIX 4.2.0, 4.3.0, and 6.0.0 could allow a user with restricted sudo access on a system to manipulate CD UNIX to gain full sudo access. IBM X-Force ID: 152532.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/28/2023
This vulnerability resides in IBM Sterling Connect:Direct for UNIX versions 4.2.0, 4.3.0, and 6.0.0 where a security flaw exists in the sudo access control mechanism. The vulnerability stems from insufficient privilege validation within the system's sudo execution process, allowing an attacker with restricted sudo permissions to escalate their privileges to full administrative access. The flaw specifically manifests when the application processes sudo commands without proper verification of the executing user's authorization level, creating a path for privilege escalation through manipulation of the sudo environment.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the improper handling of sudo command execution contexts within the Connect:Direct UNIX framework. When a user with limited sudo privileges attempts to execute certain administrative functions, the system fails to validate whether the requesting user has appropriate authorization levels for the specific operations they are attempting. This weakness aligns with CWE-276, which addresses improper privilege management, and represents a classic case of insufficient access control validation. The vulnerability operates by exploiting the sudo execution environment where the application does not properly sandbox or verify the privileges of the executing user, enabling malicious manipulation of the sudo process to gain elevated permissions.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is significant for organizations using affected IBM Sterling Connect:Direct versions, as it provides a pathway for attackers to bypass security controls and achieve full system administrative privileges. Once exploited, the vulnerability allows unauthorized users to access sensitive data, modify system configurations, and potentially compromise the entire system infrastructure. The attack vector typically involves leveraging the restricted sudo access to manipulate system commands that should require elevated privileges, thereby creating a persistent backdoor for further malicious activities. This vulnerability directly impacts the principle of least privilege and can lead to complete system compromise, making it a critical concern for enterprise security.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including applying the vendor-provided security patches and updates for IBM Sterling Connect:Direct for UNIX versions 4.2.0, 4.3.0, and 6.0.0 to address the privilege escalation vulnerability. System administrators should also review and tighten sudo configurations to ensure proper privilege validation and implement monitoring for suspicious sudo command executions. The mitigation strategy should include regular security assessments of sudo configurations and access controls, as well as implementing additional layers of authentication and authorization. This vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper privilege management and access control validation in enterprise security frameworks, aligning with ATT&CK technique T1068 which addresses privilege escalation through local exploits. Organizations should also consider implementing principle of least privilege enforcement and regular privilege audits to prevent similar vulnerabilities from being exploited in other system components.