CVE-2000-0863 in Listmanager
Summary
by MITRE
Buffer overflow in listmanager earlier than 2.105.1 allows local users to gain additional privileges.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/27/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2000-0863 represents a critical buffer overflow flaw discovered in listmanager software versions prior to 2.105.1. This issue specifically affects local users who can exploit the vulnerability to escalate their privileges within the system. The buffer overflow occurs when the application fails to properly validate input length during processing, allowing malicious data to overwrite adjacent memory regions. Such vulnerabilities are particularly dangerous because they can be leveraged by attackers who already have access to the system to elevate their privileges to higher security levels. The flaw resides in the software's memory management practices where insufficient bounds checking permits data to overflow into adjacent memory locations, potentially corrupting critical system data or executable code.
From a technical perspective, this buffer overflow vulnerability operates through classic memory corruption mechanisms that align with CWE-121, which describes the condition where a program writes data past the end of a fixed-length buffer. The vulnerability specifically impacts the listmanager application's ability to handle user-supplied input, where the software does not adequately verify the size of incoming data before copying it into fixed-size memory buffers. This allows an attacker to overwrite memory locations that contain important control data such as return addresses, function pointers, or privilege level indicators. The exploitation process typically involves crafting malicious input that fills the buffer and overflows into adjacent memory regions, potentially allowing the attacker to redirect program execution flow or modify critical system parameters. The vulnerability's impact is amplified by the fact that it affects local users, meaning that an attacker who already has some level of access to the system can leverage this flaw to gain additional privileges, potentially escalating from a regular user account to a privileged administrative level.
The operational impact of CVE-2000-0863 extends beyond simple privilege escalation, as it represents a foundational security weakness that can serve as a launching point for more sophisticated attacks. When local users can exploit this vulnerability, it creates a significant risk for systems where multiple users share the same environment, as one compromised account can potentially provide attackers with elevated privileges to access sensitive data or system resources. This type of vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1068, which covers the exploitation of vulnerabilities to gain system privileges, and can be categorized under the broader category of privilege escalation attacks. The vulnerability also demonstrates how insufficient input validation can create cascading security issues, as the buffer overflow may corrupt memory in ways that could lead to system instability or allow for more advanced exploitation techniques such as code injection or remote code execution if the vulnerability exists in network-facing components.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2000-0863 must focus on both immediate remediation and long-term architectural improvements. The primary solution involves updating the listmanager software to version 2.105.1 or later, which includes proper bounds checking and input validation mechanisms to prevent buffer overflow conditions. Organizations should also implement input sanitization practices, including length validation, character set restrictions, and proper memory allocation techniques to prevent similar vulnerabilities from occurring in other applications. Additionally, system administrators should conduct regular security audits to identify and remediate similar buffer overflow vulnerabilities in legacy software systems. The vulnerability highlights the importance of following secure coding practices such as those recommended by the CERT/CC Secure Coding Standards, which emphasize the need for proper buffer management and input validation. Implementing runtime protections such as stack canaries, address space layout randomization, and data execution prevention can provide additional layers of defense against exploitation attempts. Organizations should also establish comprehensive patch management procedures to ensure that known vulnerabilities are addressed promptly across all system components, particularly legacy applications that may not receive regular updates from vendors.