CVE-2024-0638 in Checkmk
Summary
by MITRE • 03/22/2024
Least privilege violation in the Checkmk agent plugins mk_oracle, mk_oracle.ps1, and mk_oracle_crs before Checkmk 2.3.0b4 (beta), 2.2.0p24, 2.1.0p41 and 2.0.0 (EOL) allows local users to escalate privileges.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/04/2024
The vulnerability described in CVE-2024-0638 represents a critical least privilege violation within the Checkmk monitoring agent plugins mk_oracle, mk_oracle.ps1, and mk_oracle_crs. This flaw affects multiple versions of the Checkmk monitoring platform including versions prior to 2.3.0b4, 2.2.0p24, 2.1.0p41, and the end-of-life 2.0.0 release. The issue stems from improper privilege management within these specific Oracle monitoring plugins that are designed to collect database metrics and perform administrative tasks on Oracle systems. These plugins are typically executed with elevated privileges to access Oracle database information, but the implementation contains a design flaw that allows local users to exploit this privilege escalation mechanism.
The technical flaw manifests in how these monitoring plugins handle privilege contexts and user authentication when executing Oracle database queries. The vulnerability enables local users to leverage the elevated privileges of the monitoring agent to perform unauthorized operations that should be restricted to privileged administrators only. This occurs through a combination of insecure privilege delegation and inadequate access controls within the plugin execution environment. The flaw specifically affects systems where these Oracle monitoring plugins are installed and executed with higher privileges than normal user accounts, creating an attack surface where local adversaries can manipulate the execution context to gain elevated system access.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is significant for organizations relying on Checkmk for Oracle database monitoring. Local attackers who gain access to systems running these vulnerable plugins can potentially escalate their privileges to system administrator level, allowing them to access sensitive data, modify system configurations, or establish persistent access. This vulnerability particularly affects environments where Checkmk is used for comprehensive Oracle database monitoring, as these plugins often require database connectivity with administrative privileges to function properly. The risk is amplified in environments where multiple users have local access to monitored systems, as the vulnerability can be exploited without requiring network access or complex attack vectors.
Organizations should immediately upgrade to Checkmk versions 2.3.0b4, 2.2.0p24, 2.1.0p41, or later releases where this privilege escalation vulnerability has been addressed. System administrators should also implement additional monitoring to detect unauthorized privilege escalation attempts and review access controls on systems running these Oracle monitoring plugins. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-276, which describes improper privilege management, and represents a clear violation of the principle of least privilege as outlined in the NIST Cybersecurity Framework. From an ATT&CK perspective, this vulnerability maps to privilege escalation techniques and could be leveraged to establish persistence within monitored environments, making it a critical concern for cybersecurity teams responsible for database monitoring infrastructure security.