CVE-2000-0314 in Linux
Summary
by MITRE
traceroute in NetBSD 1.3.3 and Linux systems allows local users to flood other systems by providing traceroute with a large waittime (-w) option, which is not parsed properly and sets the time delay for sending packets to zero.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/07/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2000-0314 represents a significant security flaw in the traceroute utility implementation across NetBSD 1.3.3 and various Linux systems. This issue stems from improper handling of the waittime (-w) command line option, which creates a condition where local users can exploit the utility to generate excessive network traffic. The flaw operates at the command line parsing level where the -w parameter intended to control packet timing delays becomes misinterpreted, resulting in a critical operational failure that can be leveraged for network disruption.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability lies in the improper validation and parsing of the waittime parameter within the traceroute utility code. When a user specifies a large value for the -w option, the system fails to properly process this input and instead assigns a zero value to the packet delay timer. This misconfiguration transforms what should be a controlled network diagnostic tool into a mechanism capable of generating rapid-fire network packets that can overwhelm target systems. The vulnerability manifests as a denial of service condition where the affected systems become flooded with unsolicited network traffic, potentially disrupting legitimate network operations.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents a serious risk to network infrastructure as local users can exploit it to create network flooding conditions without requiring elevated privileges. The impact extends beyond simple denial of service to potentially affecting network performance and availability for legitimate users. Attackers can leverage this flaw to target specific systems or network segments, causing cascading effects that may impact broader network operations. The vulnerability's local nature means that any user with access to the system can potentially exploit it, making it particularly dangerous in multi-user environments where privilege separation is not properly enforced.
The weakness aligns with CWE-121, which describes improper handling of input parameters that can lead to unexpected behavior in network utilities. This vulnerability also maps to several ATT&CK techniques including T1498, which covers network denial of service attacks, and T1071, which involves application layer protocol usage for command and control. The flaw represents a classic example of input validation failure that can be exploited to manipulate system behavior in ways that were never intended by the original developers. Organizations should implement proper parameter validation and input sanitization measures to prevent similar vulnerabilities from being exploited.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on immediate patching of affected systems with updated traceroute versions that properly handle the waittime parameter. System administrators should also implement network monitoring to detect unusual traffic patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts. Additional protective measures include restricting access to the traceroute utility where possible, implementing rate limiting on network traffic, and ensuring that all network diagnostic tools are regularly updated to address known vulnerabilities. The incident highlights the importance of proper input validation in network utilities and the potential for seemingly benign command line options to create significant security risks when not properly handled.