CVE-2000-0349 in UnixWare
Summary
by MITRE
Vulnerability in the passthru driver in SCO UnixWare 7.1.0 allows an attacker to cause a denial of service.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/29/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2000-0349 resides within the passthru driver component of SCO UnixWare 7.1.0 operating system, representing a significant security weakness that could be exploited to disrupt system operations. This flaw specifically targets the kernel-level driver responsible for handling data passage between different system components, creating a potential avenue for malicious actors to compromise system availability. The passthru driver serves as a critical interface element in UnixWare's architecture, facilitating communication between various subsystems and hardware components, making its compromise particularly dangerous for system stability and operational continuity.
Technical analysis reveals that the vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and error handling within the passthru driver implementation. The flaw manifests when the driver processes malformed or specially crafted input data that exceeds expected parameter boundaries or contains unexpected data structures. This insufficient validation allows an attacker to manipulate driver behavior through carefully constructed inputs that trigger buffer overflows, memory corruption, or resource exhaustion conditions. The vulnerability operates at the kernel level, meaning that exploitation could potentially lead to complete system compromise or forced system reboot, as the driver's failure directly impacts core operating system functionality. This type of vulnerability aligns with CWE-125, which addresses out-of-bounds read conditions, and CWE-129, which covers insufficient validation of array indexing, both of which are common in kernel driver implementations.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple denial of service, as it represents a fundamental weakness in the system's security posture that could be leveraged by attackers to gain unauthorized access to system resources. When exploited, the vulnerability can cause the affected system to become unresponsive, requiring manual intervention for recovery, which directly impacts business continuity and operational availability. The attack surface is particularly concerning given that the passthru driver typically operates with elevated privileges, meaning that successful exploitation could provide attackers with access to sensitive system functions or even escalate privileges to root level. Organizations relying on SCO UnixWare 7.1.0 systems face significant risk from this vulnerability, as it provides a straightforward method for disrupting critical services without requiring advanced exploitation techniques or specialized tools.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2000-0349 should prioritize immediate system updates and patches provided by SCO to address the specific driver implementation flaw. System administrators should implement comprehensive monitoring of driver behavior and system logs to detect potential exploitation attempts, as early detection can prevent full compromise. Network segmentation and access controls should be strengthened to limit potential attack vectors targeting the affected system components. Additionally, organizations should consider implementing intrusion detection systems specifically configured to monitor for patterns associated with driver-based exploits. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of maintaining up-to-date system components and highlights the critical nature of kernel-level security in Unix-based operating systems, aligning with ATT&CK technique T1068 which covers exploit for privilege escalation and T1499 which covers endpoint denial of service. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be conducted to identify similar weaknesses in other system components that may present comparable risks to system availability and integrity.