CVE-2017-6408 : Security Advisory and Response

A vulnerability has been identified in Veritas NetBackup versions 8.0 and earlier and NetBackup Appliance versions 3.0 and earlier, potentially leading to local privilege escalation due to a race condition in pbx_exchange.

Understanding CVE-2017-6408

This CVE involves a race condition that can allow a local user to escalate privileges by connecting to a socket before proper permissions are in place.

What is CVE-2017-6408?

CVE-2017-6408 is a vulnerability in Veritas NetBackup and NetBackup Appliance versions that could be exploited by a local user to gain elevated privileges.

The Impact of CVE-2017-6408

The vulnerability could result in unauthorized users gaining escalated privileges on affected systems, potentially leading to further compromise or unauthorized access.

Technical Details of CVE-2017-6408

This section provides more technical insights into the vulnerability.

Vulnerability Description

A race condition in pbx_exchange in Veritas NetBackup versions 8.0 and earlier and NetBackup Appliance versions 3.0 and earlier could allow local users to escalate privileges.

Affected Systems and Versions

Veritas NetBackup versions 8.0 and earlier
NetBackup Appliance versions 3.0 and earlier

Exploitation Mechanism

The race condition occurs when a local user connects to a socket before the necessary permissions are in place, enabling privilege escalation.

Mitigation and Prevention

To address CVE-2017-6408, follow these mitigation strategies:

Immediate Steps to Take

Apply security patches provided by Veritas for the affected versions.
Monitor and restrict local user access to critical system components.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update and patch software to prevent known vulnerabilities.
Implement the principle of least privilege to restrict user access rights.

Patching and Updates

Stay informed about security updates from Veritas and apply them promptly to secure your systems.