CVE-2000-0009 in Optivity Net Architect
Summary
by MITRE
The bna_pass program in Optivity NETarchitect uses the PATH environmental variable for finding the "rm" program, which allows local users to execute arbitrary commands.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/24/2024
The vulnerability described in CVE-2000-0009 represents a classic path injection flaw that exists within the bna_pass program component of Optivity NETarchitect software. This issue stems from the program's insecure handling of the PATH environment variable, which is a fundamental security mechanism in Unix-like operating systems that dictates the order in which directories are searched for executable programs. The bna_pass program, designed to manage network architecture functions, improperly relies on the PATH variable to locate system utilities such as the "rm" command, creating an exploitable condition where malicious actors can manipulate the execution flow.
The technical flaw manifests when a local user crafts a malicious PATH environment variable that includes a directory containing a specially named executable file. When the bna_pass program executes the "rm" command, it traverses the PATH directories in order and executes the first match it finds, regardless of whether that match is the legitimate system utility or a maliciously crafted replacement. This behavior directly violates the principle of least privilege and demonstrates a critical failure in input validation and command execution security. The vulnerability operates at the operating system level and leverages the inherent trust placed in standard system utilities, making it particularly dangerous as it can be exploited without requiring elevated privileges beyond normal user access.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple command execution, as it provides attackers with a mechanism to escalate privileges and potentially gain unauthorized access to system resources. Local users who can manipulate the PATH environment variable can execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the user running the bna_pass program, which may include system-level permissions. This creates a vector for privilege escalation attacks that can be exploited to compromise the entire network architecture management system. The vulnerability also aligns with common attack patterns documented in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under the technique of privilege escalation through environment variable manipulation. Additionally, this flaw demonstrates characteristics consistent with CWE-428, which describes "Unquoted Search Path or Default Path" vulnerabilities where programs do not properly quote or validate the search paths they use to locate executables.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2000-0009 should focus on implementing proper command execution security measures that prevent path injection attacks. The most effective approach involves hardcoding absolute paths to system utilities within the bna_pass program rather than relying on the PATH variable for command resolution. This prevents attackers from substituting legitimate executables with malicious ones through PATH manipulation. Organizations should also implement proper input validation and sanitization techniques to ensure that environment variables are not improperly used in command execution contexts. Security hardening practices should include setting restrictive permissions on the bna_pass program and its associated directories, implementing proper privilege separation, and ensuring that system utilities are located in secure directories that cannot be modified by unauthorized users. Additionally, regular security audits should verify that no programs in the system rely on unquoted PATH variables for critical operations, aligning with industry best practices for secure coding and system hardening as recommended by standards such as NIST SP 800-123 and ISO/IEC 27001.