CVE-2000-0667 in Linux
Summary
by MITRE
Vulnerability in gpm in Caldera Linux allows local users to delete arbitrary files or conduct a denial of service.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/27/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2000-0667 resides within the General Purpose Mouse driver service known as gpm that operates within Caldera Linux systems. This flaw represents a significant security weakness in the local privilege escalation and file system manipulation capabilities of the operating system. The gpm service, designed to handle mouse input for console environments, contains a critical implementation flaw that enables unauthorized local users to exploit system resources beyond their intended scope. This vulnerability directly impacts the integrity and availability of system files through malicious file deletion operations and potential denial of service conditions.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from improper input validation and insufficient access controls within the gpm daemon's file handling mechanisms. When local users interact with the mouse device through the gpm service, the system fails to properly validate file paths or enforce appropriate access restrictions. This weakness allows attackers to manipulate file operations through crafted mouse events or direct service interactions, potentially enabling them to delete arbitrary files from the system's file structure. The flaw operates at the kernel level where file system permissions and access controls are not properly enforced during mouse input processing, creating a pathway for privilege escalation.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple file deletion capabilities to encompass broader system stability and security concerns. Local users who exploit this vulnerability can potentially compromise system integrity by removing critical system files, thereby causing system instability or complete system failure. The denial of service component of this vulnerability can render the system unusable by deleting essential configuration files or binaries required for normal system operation. This flaw particularly affects multi-user environments where local access to the system provides attackers with opportunities to escalate privileges and disrupt normal operations. The vulnerability's local nature means that exploitation requires physical or remote access to the system, but once achieved, the impact can be severe for system availability and data integrity.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2000-0667 should focus on immediate system hardening and service management approaches. System administrators should disable or remove the gpm service if it is not essential for system operations, particularly in environments where local security controls are insufficient. Regular system updates and patches should be implemented to address the underlying implementation flaws in the gpm service. Network segmentation and access controls should be strengthened to limit local user privileges and prevent unauthorized access to system resources. Monitoring systems should be configured to detect suspicious file deletion patterns and unauthorized service modifications. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-22 which addresses improper limitation of a pathname to a restricted directory, and relates to ATT&CK technique T1059 for command and scripting interpreter and T1489 for denial of service. Organizations should implement comprehensive access control policies and regularly audit system configurations to prevent exploitation of similar local privilege escalation vulnerabilities.