CVE-2000-0471 in Solaris
Summary
by MITRE
Buffer overflow in ufsrestore in Solaris 8 and earlier allows local users to gain root privileges via a long pathname.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/21/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2000-0471 represents a critical buffer overflow flaw within the ufsrestore utility of Solaris 8 and earlier versions, presenting a significant security risk to affected systems. This issue resides in the Unix File System restore functionality that handles backup and restoration operations, making it a prime target for privilege escalation attacks. The vulnerability specifically manifests when the ufsrestore utility processes file paths that exceed predetermined buffer limits, creating an exploitable condition that can be leveraged by local attackers to execute arbitrary code with elevated privileges.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation within the ufsrestore utility's pathname handling mechanism. When processing backup archives containing excessively long file paths, the utility fails to properly bounds-check the input data before copying it into fixed-size buffers. This classic buffer overflow condition allows an attacker to overwrite adjacent memory locations, potentially corrupting program execution flow and enabling the execution of malicious code. The flaw is particularly dangerous because it operates within a utility that traditionally runs with elevated privileges, making the exploitation directly applicable for root compromise.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple privilege escalation, as it provides attackers with a reliable method to gain unauthorized administrative access to Solaris systems. Local users who can execute the ufsrestore utility can leverage this flaw to bypass normal security controls and execute commands with root privileges, effectively compromising the entire system. The vulnerability's exploitation does not require network access or special permissions beyond local login, making it particularly concerning for environments where local security controls may be insufficient. Systems running Solaris 8 and earlier versions are particularly at risk since these older releases contain the vulnerable code without the necessary security mitigations present in later releases.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on immediate system updates and administrative controls to prevent exploitation. The most effective solution involves applying the appropriate security patches provided by Sun Microsystems for Solaris 8 and earlier versions, which address the buffer overflow through proper bounds checking and input validation mechanisms. Organizations should also implement strict access controls to limit local user privileges and monitor system logs for suspicious ufsrestore activity. Additionally, security teams should consider implementing privilege separation techniques and regularly auditing system configurations to ensure that backup and restore utilities are not unnecessarily accessible to untrusted users. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-121, which addresses stack-based buffer overflow conditions, and represents a classic example of how local privilege escalation vulnerabilities can be exploited within Unix-like operating systems. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this as a privilege escalation technique through exploitation of system utilities, highlighting the importance of maintaining secure system configurations and regular patch management procedures to prevent such attacks from succeeding.