CVE-2000-0159 in HP-UX
Summary
by MITRE
HP Ignite-UX does not save /etc/passwd when it creates an image of a trusted system, which can set the password field to a blank and allow an attacker to gain privileges.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/20/2026
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2000-0159 affects HP Ignite-UX, a system administration tool used for creating and managing system images on HP-UX operating systems. This flaw represents a critical security weakness in the system's image creation process that directly impacts user authentication and privilege management. The vulnerability stems from the tool's improper handling of user account information during system imaging operations, specifically when the /etc/passwd file is processed. When Ignite-UX creates a system image, it fails to properly preserve the password field values from the original /etc/passwd file, potentially leaving these fields blank or null. This behavior creates a significant security risk because the password field in the /etc/passwd file typically contains the encrypted password hash for each user account, and when this field becomes empty, it can lead to unintended access control vulnerabilities.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the image creation process within HP Ignite-UX where the tool performs a system backup operation that includes copying the /etc/passwd file to the image archive. During this process, the tool does not correctly maintain the password field information, which can result in the password field being set to an empty value or null string. This occurs because the tool's internal handling of user account data does not properly preserve the encrypted password hashes that are stored in the password field of the /etc/passwd file. According to CWE-200, this represents an information exposure vulnerability where sensitive data is not properly maintained during system operations. The flaw essentially creates a scenario where user accounts that should require authentication can be accessed without proper password validation, as the password field becomes effectively empty or invalid.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe and directly relates to privilege escalation and unauthorized access. When the password field is set to blank during image creation, it can potentially allow attackers to gain root access or elevated privileges without proper authentication. This occurs because certain system processes may interpret a blank password field as a special case that permits access without password verification, or the system may default to allowing access for accounts with empty password fields. Attackers could exploit this by creating malicious system images that contain accounts with empty password fields, then restoring these images to compromise systems. The vulnerability also affects system integrity and audit capabilities, as the original authentication configuration is not preserved. This aligns with ATT&CK technique T1547.001 for registry run keys and T1068 for privilege escalation through local account manipulation. The flaw essentially undermines the fundamental authentication mechanism of the operating system by breaking the password field integrity that is critical for access control.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on immediate remediation through official HP security patches and updates that address the improper handling of password fields during image creation. System administrators should implement strict controls over who can perform system imaging operations, ensuring that only authorized personnel have access to Ignite-UX tools. Additionally, regular monitoring of system images and verification of password field integrity should be implemented as part of security auditing procedures. The system should be configured to validate password field contents during image restoration processes, and automated checks should be implemented to detect and prevent images with empty password fields from being deployed. Organizations should also consider implementing alternative backup and restore procedures that do not rely on the vulnerable Ignite-UX tool, particularly for systems with critical security requirements. Configuration management practices should include verification that password fields are properly maintained during all system image operations, and regular security assessments should validate that authentication mechanisms remain intact after system restoration processes. The vulnerability highlights the importance of proper data preservation during system operations and the need for comprehensive testing of backup and restore procedures to ensure that critical security controls remain effective.