CVE-2023-6735 in Checkmk
Summary
by MITRE • 01/12/2024
Privilege escalation in mk_tsm agent plugin in Checkmk before 2.2.0p17, 2.1.0p37 and 2.0.0p39 allows local user to escalate privileges
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/24/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2023-6735 represents a critical privilege escalation flaw within the mk_tsm agent plugin component of Checkmk monitoring software. This issue affects multiple versions including Checkmk prior to 2.2.0p17, 2.1.0p37, and 2.0.0p39, where local users can exploit a weakness to elevate their privileges from standard user level to administrative or root access. The vulnerability stems from improper privilege handling within the agent plugin that manages tape storage management operations, creating an avenue for unauthorized privilege elevation.
The technical implementation of this flaw involves the mk_tsm plugin's insufficient validation of user permissions and execution context when processing certain commands or operations related to tape storage management. The vulnerability manifests when local users can manipulate the plugin's execution environment or input parameters to bypass normal access controls. This typically occurs through improper privilege separation between different execution contexts or through insecure handling of system calls that should be restricted to privileged users only. The flaw operates at the system integration level where the agent plugin fails to properly enforce the principle of least privilege, allowing unprivileged users to execute code with elevated privileges.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability poses significant risk to organizations relying on Checkmk for system monitoring, particularly in environments where multiple users have access to monitored systems. The privilege escalation capability means that an attacker with local access can potentially gain full administrative control over the monitored systems, enabling them to modify system configurations, access sensitive data, install malicious software, or establish persistent backdoors. This vulnerability is especially concerning in enterprise environments where Checkmk is used to monitor critical infrastructure, as it could lead to widespread compromise of the monitoring ecosystem and underlying systems.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-276, which addresses improper privilege management, and can be categorized under ATT&CK technique T1068, which covers 'Exploitation for Privilege Escalation'. Organizations should immediately implement the recommended patches for Checkmk versions 2.2.0p17, 2.1.0p37, and 2.0.0p39 to address this vulnerability. Additional mitigations include restricting local user access to systems running Checkmk, implementing proper network segmentation, and monitoring for suspicious privilege escalation activities. System administrators should also conduct thorough security audits of all Checkmk installations to ensure that no unauthorized modifications have occurred and that proper access controls remain in place. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper privilege management in monitoring agents and highlights the need for comprehensive security testing of agent plugins that interface with system-level operations.