CVE-2000-0393 in KDE
Summary
by MITRE
The KDE kscd program does not drop privileges when executing a program specified in a user's SHELL environmental variable, which allows the user to gain privileges by specifying an alternate program to execute.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/21/2026
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2000-0393 resides within the KDE kscd program, a component of the K Desktop Environment that handles CD playback functionality. This flaw represents a classic privilege escalation vulnerability where the application fails to properly drop administrative privileges after performing necessary operations. The issue manifests when kscd executes external programs specified through the user's SHELL environment variable, creating an exploitable condition that can be leveraged by malicious actors to elevate their system privileges. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it directly undermines the principle of least privilege that should govern all system components.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability stems from improper privilege management within the kscd application's execution flow. When the program processes commands or executes external utilities, it does not explicitly drop root privileges before invoking programs through the SHELL environment variable. This behavior creates a path where an attacker can manipulate the environment variable to point to a malicious executable, thereby executing arbitrary code with elevated privileges. The flaw aligns with CWE-276, which addresses improper privileges, and specifically demonstrates poor privilege handling practices that violate fundamental security principles. The vulnerability operates under the assumption that the SHELL environment variable can be manipulated by the user to execute unintended programs with higher privileges than originally intended.
The operational impact of CVE-2000-0393 extends beyond simple privilege escalation, as it provides attackers with a potential foothold for more extensive system compromise. An attacker who gains access to a system running vulnerable kscd software can execute arbitrary commands with root privileges, potentially leading to complete system takeover. This vulnerability is particularly dangerous in multi-user environments where users may have access to the kscd program but should not possess administrative capabilities. The attack vector is relatively straightforward, requiring only that an attacker modify the SHELL environment variable to point to a malicious program, making it an attractive target for exploitation in various attack scenarios. The vulnerability also relates to ATT&CK technique T1068, which covers 'Exploitation for Privilege Escalation,' demonstrating how this flaw fits into broader exploitation frameworks.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on immediate privilege management improvements within the kscd application. The most effective approach involves implementing explicit privilege dropping mechanisms that ensure the program runs with minimal necessary privileges throughout its execution lifecycle. System administrators should also consider restricting the ability to modify environment variables in contexts where privilege escalation is possible. Additionally, updating to patched versions of KDE components that properly handle privilege escalation scenarios would eliminate this vulnerability entirely. Organizations should implement monitoring for unusual environment variable modifications and establish regular security audits to identify similar privilege management flaws in other applications. The remediation process should include comprehensive testing to ensure that privilege dropping mechanisms function correctly and do not introduce new security issues or service disruptions.