CVE-2000-1041 in ypbind
Summary
by MITRE
Buffer overflow in ypbind 3.3 possibly allows an attacker to gain root privileges.
If you want to get best quality of vulnerability data, you may have to visit VulDB.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/25/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2000-1041 represents a critical buffer overflow flaw in the ypbind service version 3.3 which is part of the NIS (Network Information Service) implementation commonly found in Unix and Linux systems. This service is responsible for maintaining the mapping between NIS domain names and the hosts that serve them, making it a crucial component for networked system administration and user authentication processes. The buffer overflow occurs when ypbind processes certain network requests containing malformed data, specifically in how it handles input validation for domain name parameters and other network communication elements.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability stems from improper bounds checking within the ypbind daemon's network request handling code. When an attacker sends a specially crafted network packet containing an overly long domain name or other parameter values, the service fails to properly validate the input length before copying it into fixed-size buffers. This classic buffer overflow condition allows malicious input to overwrite adjacent memory locations, potentially including return addresses, function pointers, or other critical control data. The flaw is particularly dangerous because ypbind typically runs with elevated privileges to manage network services and system configuration, making successful exploitation directly translate into full system compromise.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple privilege escalation to encompass complete system compromise and potential network-wide disruption. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability can gain root access to the affected system, enabling them to install backdoors, modify system files, steal sensitive information, or use the compromised system as a launch point for further attacks against other networked systems. The vulnerability affects systems running NIS services, particularly those using the NIS implementation from the NIS package version 3.3, and is especially concerning in enterprise environments where NIS is commonly used for centralized user management and authentication across multiple networked hosts. The exploitability of this flaw is relatively straightforward, requiring only network access to the target system and basic knowledge of NIS protocols.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2000-1041 should focus on immediate patching and system hardening measures. The most effective solution involves updating to a patched version of the NIS package that includes proper input validation and buffer size checks. Organizations should also implement network segmentation and access controls to limit exposure of ypbind services to untrusted networks. Additional protective measures include disabling unnecessary NIS services, implementing proper network monitoring to detect anomalous ypbind traffic patterns, and regularly auditing system configurations for proper privilege separation. From a cybersecurity framework perspective, this vulnerability aligns with CWE-121, which describes heap-based buffer overflow conditions, and maps to ATT&CK technique T1068, involving privilege escalation through exploitation of software vulnerabilities. System administrators should also consider migrating from legacy NIS implementations to more modern authentication systems such as LDAP or Kerberos, which provide better security controls and are less prone to such buffer overflow vulnerabilities.