CVE-2000-0699 in HP-UX
Summary
by MITRE
Format string vulnerability in ftpd in HP-UX 10.20 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service or execute arbitrary commands via format strings in the PASS command.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/01/2024
The vulnerability described in CVE-2000-0699 represents a critical format string flaw in the ftpd daemon component of HP-UX 10.20 operating systems. This vulnerability specifically manifests within the PASS command processing functionality of the FTP server implementation, creating a pathway for remote attackers to exploit the system through malformed input sequences. The flaw stems from improper handling of user-supplied data during string formatting operations, where the ftpd service fails to properly validate or sanitize input parameters before using them in printf-style functions.
The technical nature of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-134, which catalogs weakness in which format strings are constructed using data from an untrusted source without proper validation or sanitization. When an attacker sends a specially crafted PASS command containing format specifiers such as %s, %d, or %x, the ftpd service processes these strings without adequate safeguards, potentially leading to stack corruption, memory access violations, or arbitrary code execution. The vulnerability operates at the application layer and requires no authentication for exploitation, making it particularly dangerous in networked environments where FTP services are exposed to untrusted users.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability creates significant risks for systems running HP-UX 10.20 with FTP services enabled. Remote attackers can leverage this flaw to either cause a denial of service by crashing the ftpd process, thereby disrupting legitimate file transfer operations, or potentially execute arbitrary commands with the privileges of the ftpd process. The severity of impact escalates when considering that many organizations relied on FTP services for data exchange, making this vulnerability a prime target for malicious actors seeking unauthorized system access or service disruption. The vulnerability also maps to ATT&CK technique T1210, which involves exploitation of remote services to gain system access.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should include immediate patching of affected HP-UX systems through official security updates from Hewlett-Packard, which would address the underlying format string handling issue. Organizations should also implement network segmentation to limit exposure of FTP services to untrusted networks, disable unnecessary FTP services when not required, and consider implementing intrusion detection systems to monitor for suspicious PASS command patterns. Additionally, system administrators should conduct comprehensive vulnerability assessments to identify all instances of the vulnerable ftpd service and ensure proper input validation is implemented in all network services processing user-supplied data. The vulnerability underscores the importance of secure coding practices and proper input validation in network services, particularly when dealing with user-controllable data that may be processed through formatting functions.