CVE-2000-0797 in IRIX
Summary
by MITRE
Buffer overflow in gr_osview in IRIX 6.2 and 6.3 allows local users to gain privileges via a long -D option.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/15/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2000-0797 represents a critical buffer overflow flaw within the gr_osview utility distributed with IRIX operating systems version 6.2 and 6.3. This issue resides in the handling of command line arguments, specifically the -D option which is designed to specify a debug level or directory path. The flaw occurs when the application processes user-supplied input without proper bounds checking, allowing an attacker to exceed the allocated buffer space and overwrite adjacent memory locations.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation within the gr_osview application's argument parsing routine. When a local user provides an excessively long argument to the -D option, the program fails to verify that the input length remains within acceptable parameters before copying the data into a fixed-size buffer. This classic buffer overflow condition enables an attacker to overwrite the stack frame, potentially corrupting return addresses and control pointers that govern program execution flow. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it operates with local privileges, meaning an attacker must already have access to the system to exploit it, though the privilege escalation aspect makes it especially dangerous.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability creates a significant security risk for IRIX systems running affected versions. Local users who can execute the gr_osview utility gain the ability to escalate their privileges to the root level, effectively compromising the entire system. The attack vector requires minimal sophistication as it only necessitates the ability to run the vulnerable program with crafted input, making it particularly attractive to malicious insiders or attackers who have already gained local access through other means. The vulnerability also aligns with attack patterns documented in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under privilege escalation techniques, specifically targeting local execution and system-level access.
The mitigation strategies for CVE-2000-0797 should focus on immediate system hardening and patch management. Organizations should prioritize applying the vendor-supplied patches for IRIX 6.2 and 6.3 that address the buffer overflow in gr_osview, as these updates typically include proper bounds checking and input validation mechanisms. Additionally, system administrators should implement discretionary access controls to limit local user privileges and monitor for unusual execution patterns of the gr_osview utility. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper software development practices including input validation and buffer management, principles that align with CWE-121, which categorizes buffer overflow conditions as a fundamental security weakness requiring robust defensive programming techniques. System monitoring should also include detection of long command line arguments being passed to executables, as this represents a potential indicator of exploitation attempts.