CVE-2019-17044 in Patrol Agent
Summary
by MITRE
An issue was discovered in BMC Patrol Agent 9.0.10i. Weak execution permissions on the PatrolAgent SUID binary could allow an attacker with "patrol" privileges to elevate his/her privileges to the ones of the "root" user by specially crafting a shared library .so file that will be loaded during execution.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/15/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2019-17044 represents a critical privilege escalation flaw within BMC Patrol Agent version 9.0.10i, a widely deployed monitoring solution in enterprise environments. This issue stems from improper execution permissions on the PatrolAgent SUID binary, creating a pathway for attackers to escalate their privileges from the standard "patrol" user account to the elevated "root" user level. The vulnerability specifically targets the shared library loading mechanism during binary execution, exploiting a fundamental weakness in the system's privilege management architecture. The flaw exists because the SUID binary lacks proper permission controls that should prevent unauthorized modification or replacement of shared libraries during runtime execution.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability relies on the attacker's ability to craft a malicious shared library file with the .so extension that will be loaded during the PatrolAgent execution process. When the SUID binary executes with elevated privileges, it loads the attacker-controlled shared library, effectively allowing code execution with root privileges. This mechanism exploits the inherent trust model of Unix-like systems where SUID binaries execute with the file owner's privileges rather than the executing user's privileges. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it leverages the legitimate system functionality of shared library loading to bypass normal privilege boundaries, making detection more challenging. The flaw is categorized under CWE-276, which addresses improper privilege management, specifically focusing on weak permissions on executable files and the improper handling of SUID binaries.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple privilege escalation, potentially enabling full system compromise and persistent access within enterprise environments. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to establish backdoors, exfiltrate sensitive data, modify system configurations, or deploy additional malware without requiring initial access as a privileged user. The attack vector is particularly concerning because it requires only minimal privileges, making it accessible to users who have legitimate access to the PatrolAgent service but not necessarily root access. Organizations using BMC Patrol Agent in production environments face significant risk, as this vulnerability can be exploited by both internal threat actors and external attackers who gain access to a patrol user account. The vulnerability can be exploited across various deployment scenarios, including cloud environments, on-premises installations, and hybrid configurations, making it a widespread concern for system administrators.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2019-17044 should focus on immediate permission adjustments and long-term architectural improvements. System administrators should immediately verify and correct the SUID permissions on the PatrolAgent binary, ensuring that only authorized users can modify the binary or its associated shared libraries. The recommended approach involves implementing proper file system permissions and using the chmod command to restrict write access to the binary and its library directories. Additionally, organizations should consider implementing file integrity monitoring solutions to detect unauthorized modifications to critical system binaries. The use of security frameworks such as the ATT&CK matrix can help identify and prevent exploitation patterns, particularly focusing on privilege escalation techniques and the use of SUID binaries. Regular patching and vulnerability assessments should be implemented to prevent similar issues in other system components, while the principle of least privilege should be enforced across all system services. Organizations should also consider implementing runtime protection measures and monitoring for suspicious shared library loading activities to detect potential exploitation attempts.