CVE-2023-30998 is a vulnerability identified in IBM Security Access Manager Docker versions 10.0.0.0 through 10.0.7.1. The issue arises from improper access controls that allow a local user to execute processes with unnecessary privileges, specifically enabling privilege escalation to root. This vulnerability is classified under CWE-250, which pertains to execution with unnecessary privileges. The flaw allows an attacker with local access and low attack complexity to gain full administrative control over the host system running the vulnerable Docker container. The CVSS v3.1 base score is 7.8, indicating high severity, with the vector AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H, meaning the attack requires local access, low complexity, low privileges, no user interaction, unchanged scope, and impacts confidentiality, integrity, and availability at a high level. No public exploits have been reported yet, but the risk remains significant due to the potential for complete system compromise. IBM Security Access Manager is widely used in enterprise environments to manage access and identity, often within critical infrastructure and regulated industries, making this vulnerability particularly concerning. The lack of available patches at the time of disclosure necessitates immediate risk mitigation through access restrictions and container security best practices.

For European organizations, the impact of CVE-2023-30998 can be severe. Successful exploitation results in local privilege escalation to root, allowing attackers to fully control the affected host system. This can lead to unauthorized data access, manipulation, or destruction, disruption of services, and potential lateral movement within networks. Organizations in sectors such as finance, healthcare, government, and critical infrastructure that rely on IBM Security Access Manager Docker for identity and access management are at heightened risk. The breach of confidentiality, integrity, and availability could result in regulatory non-compliance, financial losses, reputational damage, and operational downtime. Given the local access requirement, insider threats or attackers who have already gained limited footholds could leverage this vulnerability to escalate privileges rapidly. The absence of known exploits in the wild provides a window for proactive defense, but the high severity score underscores the urgency of mitigation.

1. Monitor IBM’s official channels for patches addressing CVE-2023-30998 and apply them immediately upon release. 2. Restrict local access to hosts running IBM Security Access Manager Docker containers to trusted administrators only, minimizing the risk of local exploitation. 3. Implement strict container security policies, including running containers with the least privileges necessary and avoiding running containers as root where possible. 4. Employ host-based intrusion detection and prevention systems to monitor for suspicious privilege escalation attempts. 5. Conduct regular audits of user permissions and access logs on affected systems to detect anomalous activities. 6. Use container security tools to enforce runtime security policies and isolate containers effectively. 7. Educate system administrators about the risks of privilege escalation vulnerabilities and the importance of adhering to security best practices. 8. Consider network segmentation to limit the impact of a compromised host within the broader organizational network.