CVE-2014-1425

What it actually does

The flaw fails to enforce cgroup nesting restrictions in cmanager, allowing local users to modify properties on any cgroup rather than only those they control.

Why it matters to the business

Local attackers can alter system resource controls, potentially causing service disruption or unauthorized resource allocation across the host.

How an attack unfolds

A local user invokes cmanager to change cgroup settings; because nesting checks are absent, the modification applies to unrelated cgroups, bypassing intended isolation.

How to fix it

Upgrade phpmyadmin/phpmyadmin (GIT) to the version containing commit c57d3cc7b97b5f32801032f7bb222297aa97dfea.

How to confirm the fix worked

Confirm the patched commit is present in the running codebase and verify that cgroup modifications are now restricted to properly nested groups only.

Typical attack path

1. Obtain local shell access on the affected host
2. Locate and invoke the cmanager binary
3. Supply a cgroup modification that targets non-nested groups
4. Observe or confirm the change has propagated beyond the caller's scope

How to detect it

Search host audit logs and cgroup controller logs for property changes performed by non-root users outside their expected nested scope.

What your security team should do

• Apply the fixed commit to all instances
• Audit local user permissions on hosts running cgroup management tools
• Review logs for prior unauthorized cgroup modifications