CVE-2017-3891 Explained : Impact and Mitigation
Learn about CVE-2017-3891 affecting BlackBerry QNX Software Development Platform (SDP) 6.6.0. Understand the impact, technical details, and mitigation steps to prevent unauthorized access and file control.
BlackBerry QNX Software Development Platform (SDP) 6.6.0 is vulnerable to an elevation of privilege issue when QNet is enabled on networks with multiple nodes, potentially allowing unauthorized access to files and control over other QNX nodes.
Understanding CVE-2017-3891
What is CVE-2017-3891?
The default configuration of BlackBerry QNX Software Development Platform (SDP) 6.6.0 is susceptible to an elevation of privilege vulnerability when QNet is enabled on networks consisting of two or more QNet nodes. This vulnerability could potentially empower an attacker to gain unauthorized access to both local and remote files, or assume control of files on other QNX nodes by executing specific commands.
The Impact of CVE-2017-3891
This vulnerability could allow an attacker to access local and remote files or take ownership of files on other QNX nodes, regardless of permissions, by executing commands targeting arbitrary nodes from a secondary QNX 6.6.0 QNet node.
Technical Details of CVE-2017-3891
Vulnerability Description
In BlackBerry QNX Software Development Platform (SDP) 6.6.0, an elevation of privilege vulnerability in the default configuration with QNet enabled on networks comprising two or more QNet nodes could allow unauthorized access to files and control over other QNX nodes.
Affected Systems and Versions
- Product: QNX Software Development Platform (QNX SDP)
- Vendor: BlackBerry
- Version: 6.6.0
Exploitation Mechanism
The vulnerability can be exploited by executing specific commands from a secondary QNX 6.6.0 QNet node to target arbitrary nodes, enabling unauthorized access to files and control over other QNX nodes.
Mitigation and Prevention
Immediate Steps to Take
- Disable QNet if not required for network operations
- Implement network segmentation to limit exposure
- Monitor network traffic for suspicious activities
Long-Term Security Practices
- Regularly update and patch QNX SDP to the latest version
- Conduct security assessments and audits to identify vulnerabilities
Patching and Updates
Apply security patches provided by BlackBerry to address the elevation of privilege vulnerability in QNX SDP 6.6.0.