CVE-2023-45171 in AIX
Summary
by MITRE • 01/11/2024
IBM AIX 7.2, 7.3, and VIOS 3.1 could allow a non-privileged local user to exploit a vulnerability in the kernel to cause a denial of service. IBM X-Force ID: 267969.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/25/2024
This vulnerability affects IBM AIX operating systems version 7.2 and 7.3, as well as IBM VIOS version 3.1, presenting a significant security risk that could be exploited by local users. The flaw resides within the kernel implementation and allows a non-privileged user to potentially cause a system-wide denial of service condition. This represents a critical weakness in the operating system's security model as it enables users with minimal privileges to disrupt system operations. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it operates at the kernel level where privilege escalation is not required, making exploitation straightforward and potentially devastating for system availability.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from improper handling of specific kernel operations that could be manipulated by a local user to trigger system instability. When exploited, the vulnerability causes the kernel to enter an inconsistent state that results in system hang or complete system crash. This type of flaw typically involves memory management issues, resource exhaustion, or improper validation of system calls that could be leveraged to force the kernel into an unrecoverable state. The attack vector requires only local access to the system, eliminating the need for network connectivity or elevated privileges, which makes this vulnerability particularly dangerous in multi-user environments.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple system downtime as it could affect critical business applications running on AIX systems. Organizations relying on AIX for enterprise applications, database servers, or mission-critical workloads face potential revenue loss and operational disruption when systems become unavailable due to this vulnerability. The local user exploitation means that any individual with access to the system, whether legitimate or compromised, could potentially trigger the denial of service condition. This creates a significant risk for environments where multiple users have local access or where system compromise is possible through other attack vectors that could lead to local execution.
Mitigation strategies should focus on applying the official IBM security patches and updates as soon as they become available for the affected versions. System administrators should also implement monitoring solutions to detect unusual system behavior that might indicate exploitation attempts. Network segmentation and access controls should be reviewed to limit local user access where possible, though this may not be feasible in all environments. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-119 which describes weaknesses in memory handling, and represents a potential entry point for attackers seeking to establish persistent access through denial of service attacks that could be used as a precursor to more sophisticated exploitation techniques. Organizations should also consider implementing process monitoring and system integrity checks to detect abnormal kernel behavior that could indicate exploitation attempts. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be performed to identify similar kernel-level weaknesses that could be exploited in the same manner.