CVE-2023-45172 in AIX
Summary
by MITRE • 12/20/2023
IBM AIX 7.2, 7.3, and VIOS 3.1 could allow a non-privileged local user to exploit a vulnerability in AIX windows to cause a denial of service. IBM X-Force ID: 267970.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/13/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2023-45172 affects IBM AIX operating systems version 7.2 and 7.3, along with IBM VIOS version 3.1, representing a significant security concern for enterprise environments relying on these systems. This weakness specifically targets the AIX windows subsystem, which forms part of the graphical user interface framework that manages display and window management operations within the operating system. The vulnerability enables a non-privileged local user to exploit a flaw in the window management mechanism, potentially leading to system-wide denial of service conditions that could disrupt critical business operations.
The technical flaw resides in how the AIX windowing system handles certain user interactions or window management operations, creating a condition where malformed input or specific sequence of window operations can trigger an unexpected system state. This issue manifests as a failure in the window management subsystem to properly handle resource allocation or state transitions, resulting in system instability. According to CWE classification, this vulnerability aligns with CWE-121, which describes heap-based buffer overflow conditions, though the specific manifestation in this case relates to window management rather than traditional buffer overflows. The flaw operates at the system level within the X Window System implementation, where window creation, manipulation, or destruction operations can cause kernel-level memory corruption or resource exhaustion that leads to system hang or complete crash.
From an operational perspective, the impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple service disruption as it affects the fundamental stability of the operating system environment. A successful exploitation can result in complete system unresponsiveness, requiring manual intervention and system restarts that may cause data loss or service interruptions for applications running on the affected systems. The non-privileged nature of the attack vector means that even users with minimal system access rights can potentially compromise system availability, making this vulnerability particularly concerning for multi-user environments where access controls may not be strictly enforced. Organizations running AIX systems in production environments face significant risk of operational disruption, especially in mission-critical applications where system uptime is essential for business continuity.
The recommended mitigation strategy involves applying the official IBM security patches and updates that address the specific window management flaw in the affected AIX versions. System administrators should prioritize patch deployment across all affected systems, particularly those running in high-availability configurations where denial of service could have cascading effects. Additionally, implementing monitoring solutions that can detect unusual window management patterns or resource consumption spikes may provide early warning of potential exploitation attempts. Organizations should also consider implementing network segmentation and access controls to limit local user access where possible, although this does not eliminate the vulnerability since it requires local system access to exploit. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under T1499 which covers network denial of service, though the specific vector involves local system exploitation rather than network-based attacks. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be conducted to identify any additional weaknesses in the windowing subsystem that could be exploited in conjunction with this vulnerability.