CVE-2009-2669

IBM AIX <6.1 - Privilege Escalation

Title source: llm
STIX 2.1

Exploitation Summary

EIP tracks 1 public exploit for CVE-2009-2669. PoCs published by Marco Ivaldi.

AI-analyzed exploit summary This exploit leverages improper handling of the _LIB_INIT_DBG and _LIB_INIT_DBG_FILE environment variables in IBM AIX to create an arbitrary root-owned file with world-writable permissions via a setuid-root program linked to libC.a or libc.a. It demonstrates a local privilege escalation by overwriting sensitive files.

Description

A certain debugging component in IBM AIX 5.3 and 6.1 does not properly handle the (1) _LIB_INIT_DBG and (2) _LIB_INIT_DBG_FILE environment variables, which allows local users to gain privileges by leveraging a setuid-root program to create an arbitrary root-owned file with world-writable permissions, related to libC.a (aka the XL C++ runtime library) in AIX 5.3 and libc.a in AIX 6.1.

Exploits (1)

exploitdb WORKING POC VERIFIED
by Marco Ivaldi · bashlocalaix
https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/9645

This exploit leverages improper handling of the _LIB_INIT_DBG and _LIB_INIT_DBG_FILE environment variables in IBM AIX to create an arbitrary root-owned file with world-writable permissions via a setuid-root program linked to libC.a or libc.a. It demonstrates a local privilege escalation by overwriting sensitive files.

Classification
Working Poc 100%
Attack Type
Lpe
Complexity
Trivial
Reliability
Reliable
Target: IBM AIX 5.3 (xlC.rte < 10.1.0.2) and AIX 6.1 (bos.rte.libc < 6.1.3.2)
No auth needed
Prerequisites: Access to a vulnerable AIX system · Presence of a setuid-root binary linked to libC.a or libc.a
devstral-2 · analyzed Feb 16, 2026 Full analysis →

References (12)

Core 12
Core References
Various Sources vendor-advisory x_refsource_aixapar
http://www.ibm.com/support/docview.wss?uid=isg1IZ54593
Patch, Vendor Advisory vendor-advisory x_refsource_aixapar
http://www.ibm.com/support/docview.wss?uid=isg1IZ56204
Third Party Advisory third-party-advisory x_refsource_secunia
http://secunia.com/advisories/36156
Patch, Vendor Advisory vendor-advisory x_refsource_aixapar
http://www.ibm.com/support/docview.wss?uid=isg1IZ56203
Various Sources vendor-advisory x_refsource_aixapar
http://www.ibm.com/support/docview.wss?uid=isg1IZ54090
Various Sources vendor-advisory x_refsource_aixapar
http://www.ibm.com/support/docview.wss?uid=isg1IZ54091
Patch vdb-entry x_refsource_bid
http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/35934
Patch, Vendor Advisory vendor-advisory x_refsource_aixapar
http://www.ibm.com/support/docview.wss?uid=isg1IZ56205
Third Party Advisory vdb-entry x_refsource_vupen
http://www.vupen.com/english/advisories/2009/2151
Third Party Advisory third-party-advisory x_refsource_idefense
http://labs.idefense.com/intelligence/vulnerabilities/display.php?id=815
Patch, Vendor Advisory vendor-advisory x_refsource_aixapar
http://www.ibm.com/support/docview.wss?uid=isg1IZ56206

Scores

EPSS 0.0072
EPSS Percentile 48.8%

Details

CWE
CWE-264
Status published
Products (2)
ibm/aix 5.3
ibm/aix 6.1
Published Aug 05, 2009
Tracked Since Feb 18, 2026