CVE-2019-4558 in Spectrum Scale
Summary
by MITRE
A security vulnerability has been identified in all levels of IBM Spectrum Scale V5.0.0.0 through V5.0.3.2 and IBM Spectrum Scale V4.2.0.0 through V4.2.3.17 that could allow a local attacker to obtain root privilege by injecting parameters into setuid files.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/07/2024
IBM Spectrum Scale represents a high-performance distributed file system that serves critical enterprise storage needs across various industries. This vulnerability affects multiple versions of the software, specifically spanning from IBM Spectrum Scale V4.2.0.0 through V4.2.3.17 and V5.0.0.0 through V5.0.3.2, creating a significant attack surface across different operational environments. The flaw manifests through improper handling of parameters within setuid executables, creating a path for privilege escalation attacks. The vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and parameter sanitization mechanisms that fail to properly handle maliciously crafted inputs passed to setuid binaries.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability allows a local attacker to manipulate parameter values that are processed by setuid programs, effectively bypassing normal access controls and privilege boundaries. When these programs execute with elevated privileges, the parameter injection can result in arbitrary code execution with root privileges, fundamentally compromising the system's security model. This type of vulnerability aligns with CWE-78 and CWE-79, representing command injection and cross-site scripting weaknesses respectively, though adapted to the local privilege escalation context. The attack vector operates through the exploitation of trust relationships within the system where legitimate setuid binaries are leveraged for unauthorized privilege elevation.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability creates a severe risk for organizations relying on IBM Spectrum Scale for their storage infrastructure, as local attackers with basic user access can escalate privileges to root level without requiring additional authentication or external attack vectors. The impact extends beyond individual system compromise to potentially affect entire distributed storage clusters where the vulnerability exists across multiple nodes. This vulnerability directly violates the principle of least privilege and undermines the fundamental security architecture of the file system. The attack requires only local access to the system, making it particularly dangerous in environments where physical or logical access controls may be insufficient.
Mitigation strategies should focus on immediate patch application for all affected versions of IBM Spectrum Scale, as recommended by IBM security advisories. System administrators should implement additional monitoring for suspicious parameter usage patterns and setuid binary execution. Network segmentation and access controls should be reinforced to limit local user access where possible. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper input validation in privileged programs and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1068 for local privilege escalation. Organizations should conduct comprehensive vulnerability assessments to identify any custom scripts or applications that may be similarly vulnerable to parameter injection attacks. Regular security audits of setuid binaries and privilege escalation mechanisms should be implemented as part of ongoing security operations to prevent similar issues from emerging in other system components.