CVE-1999-0409 in Linux
Summary
by MITRE
Buffer overflow in gnuplot in Linux version 3.5 allows local users to obtain root access.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/16/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-1999-0409 represents a critical buffer overflow flaw within the gnuplot plotting utility version 3.5 running on linux systems. This particular software package serves as a powerful tool for creating 2D and 3D plots from data sets and mathematical functions, widely utilized in scientific computing and data visualization environments. The buffer overflow occurs within the program's handling of command line arguments or input data, creating an exploitable condition that can be leveraged by local attackers to escalate privileges.
The technical mechanism behind this vulnerability stems from improper bounds checking within gnuplot's input processing routines. When the application processes user-supplied data or command line parameters, it fails to validate the length of input strings against the allocated buffer space, allowing attackers to overwrite adjacent memory locations. This memory corruption can be specifically manipulated to overwrite critical program variables, return addresses, or function pointers, ultimately enabling the execution of arbitrary code with elevated privileges. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-121 as a stack-based buffer overflow, where the program writes beyond the bounds of a fixed-length buffer on the stack.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe as it allows local users to escalate their privileges from regular user level to root access without requiring authentication. This privilege escalation occurs because gnuplot is often installed with setuid root permissions to enable proper system-level operations, making it an attractive target for attackers seeking elevated system access. Once exploited, the attacker gains complete control over the affected system, potentially enabling them to install malware, modify system files, create backdoors, or exfiltrate sensitive data. The vulnerability affects systems where gnuplot is installed with elevated privileges and where local users have access to execute the program.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability involve several approaches that address both the immediate security concern and long-term system hardening. The primary solution is to update to a patched version of gnuplot that implements proper input validation and buffer boundary checking, which would prevent the overflow condition from occurring. System administrators should also consider removing setuid permissions from gnuplot installations when they are not strictly required for functionality, as this reduces the attack surface for privilege escalation. Additionally, implementing proper input sanitization measures and adopting defensive programming practices such as using safe string handling functions can prevent similar vulnerabilities from manifesting. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1068 which covers privilege escalation through local exploits, and T1548.001 which covers abuse of setuid and setgid binaries to gain elevated privileges. Organizations should also conduct regular security audits to identify and remediate similar vulnerabilities in other system utilities that may be installed with elevated permissions, as this represents a common vector for local privilege escalation attacks in unix-like operating systems.