CVE-2019-5015 in Renderman
Summary
by MITRE
A local privilege escalation vulnerability exists in the Mac OS X version of Pixar Renderman 22.3.0's Install Helper helper tool. A user with local access can use this vulnerability to escalate their privileges to root. An attacker would need local access to the machine for a successful exploit.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/31/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2019-5015 represents a critical local privilege escalation flaw within Pixar Renderman 22.3.0's Install Helper tool on macOS systems. This issue stems from improper privilege handling within the helper tool's implementation, creating an avenue for unauthorized users to elevate their system privileges from standard user level to root access. The vulnerability specifically affects macOS versions where Pixar Renderman is installed, making it particularly concerning for environments where multiple users share systems or where security controls may be less stringent. The flaw exists in the helper tool's execution context, which should normally operate with elevated privileges but fails to properly validate or restrict access controls during its operation.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability involves a user with local access manipulating the helper tool's behavior to execute arbitrary code with root privileges. This typically occurs through improper input validation or insecure privilege escalation mechanisms within the helper tool's codebase. The flaw allows a local attacker to bypass normal access controls that should prevent standard users from executing privileged operations. The vulnerability demonstrates a classic improper privilege management issue that aligns with CWE-276, which addresses improper privilege management in software applications. The helper tool's design appears to grant excessive privileges to the executing user context, creating a security boundary violation that enables unauthorized privilege elevation.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents significant risks to macOS environments, particularly in enterprise settings where multiple users may have local access to systems. The requirement for local access means that the attack vector is limited to physical or remote access to the machine, but this still represents a substantial security risk given that many systems remain accessible to local users. The impact extends beyond individual system compromise, as successful exploitation could enable attackers to install persistent backdoors, modify system files, or access sensitive data that would otherwise be protected by proper access controls. This vulnerability directly impacts the principle of least privilege and can lead to complete system compromise when exploited effectively.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2019-5015 should prioritize immediate patching of Pixar Renderman to versions that address the privilege escalation flaw. Organizations should implement strict access controls and limit local user access where possible, as the vulnerability requires local system access to exploit. The remediation process should include removing or disabling the vulnerable helper tool until a patched version is deployed, and conducting comprehensive system audits to identify any potential compromise from prior exploitation attempts. Security teams should also monitor for suspicious system activities that might indicate exploitation attempts, particularly around privilege escalation events and unusual helper tool executions. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1068, which covers privilege escalation through local exploits, and should be addressed as part of broader privilege escalation mitigation strategies within enterprise security frameworks.