CVE-2024-35141 is a vulnerability identified in IBM Security Verify Access Docker versions 10.0.0 through 10.0.6, categorized under CWE-250, which involves execution with unnecessary privileges. This flaw allows a local attacker who already has limited access to the system to escalate their privileges by exploiting the improper execution context of certain processes or commands within the Docker container environment. The vulnerability arises because some components or scripts run with higher privileges than necessary, violating the principle of least privilege. This can lead to unauthorized access to sensitive data, modification of system configurations, or disruption of services. The vulnerability does not require user interaction but does require local access, which could be obtained through other means such as compromised credentials or insider threats. The CVSS v3.1 score of 7.8 indicates a high severity, with a vector of AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H, meaning the attack is local, requires low complexity, low privileges, no user interaction, and impacts confidentiality, integrity, and availability significantly. No public exploits are known yet, but the vulnerability's nature suggests it could be leveraged in targeted attacks or lateral movement scenarios within compromised networks. IBM has not yet published patches, so mitigation currently relies on access restrictions and monitoring.

For European organizations, this vulnerability poses a significant risk especially to enterprises and government entities that deploy IBM Security Verify Access Docker for identity and access management. Successful exploitation could lead to full system compromise, exposing sensitive personal data protected under GDPR, disrupting critical authentication services, and enabling further lateral movement within networks. The impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability is high, potentially resulting in data breaches, service outages, and loss of trust. Organizations in sectors such as finance, healthcare, telecommunications, and public administration are particularly vulnerable due to their reliance on robust access controls and the critical nature of their services. Additionally, the local attack vector means insider threats or attackers who have gained initial footholds could escalate privileges rapidly, complicating incident response and remediation efforts.

European organizations should implement the following specific mitigations: 1) Restrict local access to systems running IBM Security Verify Access Docker to trusted personnel only, enforcing strict role-based access controls and multi-factor authentication. 2) Monitor and audit local user activities and Docker container executions to detect anomalous privilege escalations or unauthorized process executions. 3) Apply container security best practices such as running containers with the least privileges necessary, disabling unnecessary capabilities, and using user namespaces to isolate container processes. 4) Segregate critical identity management infrastructure from general user environments to limit exposure. 5) Stay informed on IBM’s security advisories and apply patches or updates immediately once available. 6) Employ endpoint detection and response (EDR) solutions capable of identifying privilege escalation attempts within containerized environments. 7) Conduct regular security assessments and penetration testing focused on privilege escalation vectors within container deployments.