CVE-1999-0108 in IRIX
Summary
by MITRE
The printers program in IRIX has a buffer overflow that gives root access to local users.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/02/2024
The vulnerability described in CVE-1999-0108 represents a critical buffer overflow flaw within the printers program of the IRIX operating system, which is a proprietary Unix-based system developed by Silicon Graphics Inc. This vulnerability specifically affects local users who can exploit the buffer overflow condition to escalate their privileges to the root level of the system. The printers program in IRIX was designed to manage printing functions and handle printer-related configurations, but it contained a programming error that allowed attackers to overwrite memory buffers beyond their intended boundaries.
The technical nature of this buffer overflow stems from improper input validation within the printers program's code implementation. When the program processes user-supplied data or command-line arguments, it fails to properly check the length of input before copying it into fixed-size memory buffers. This classic programming flaw allows an attacker to craft malicious input that exceeds the buffer capacity, causing adjacent memory locations to be overwritten with attacker-controlled data. The overflow occurs in a context where the program executes with elevated privileges, typically root permissions, making the exploitation particularly dangerous as it enables privilege escalation without requiring external network access or complex attack vectors.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe for any system running IRIX with the affected printers program. Local users who can execute the printers program gain the ability to execute arbitrary code with root privileges, effectively compromising the entire system. This type of vulnerability falls under CWE-121, which describes stack-based buffer overflow conditions, and represents a classic example of privilege escalation through memory corruption. The attack requires only local access to the system, making it particularly concerning for environments where physical or network access might be compromised, as it allows attackers to quickly establish persistent root access without requiring additional exploitation techniques or network-based attack vectors.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability primarily involve immediate patching or system updates from Silicon Graphics to address the buffer overflow condition in the printers program. System administrators should also implement principle of least privilege by ensuring that only authorized users have access to execute the printers program, and consider disabling unnecessary printer services when they are not actively required. Additionally, monitoring for unusual execution patterns of the printers program and implementing proper input validation checks can help detect potential exploitation attempts. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to privilege escalation techniques and represents a low-effort, high-impact attack vector that demonstrates how local buffer overflow vulnerabilities can be leveraged to gain complete system control. Organizations should also consider implementing application whitelisting policies and regular security assessments to identify similar buffer overflow conditions in other system components that might pose similar risks.