CVE-2000-1044 in Linux
Summary
by MITRE
Format string vulnerability in ypbind-mt in SuSE SuSE-6.2, and possibly other Linux operating systems, allows an attacker to gain root privileges.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/28/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2000-1044 represents a critical format string flaw within the ypbind-mt daemon on SuSE Linux 6.2 systems and potentially other Linux distributions. This issue arises from improper input validation in the network service handling mechanism, where the ypbind-mt process fails to properly sanitize user-supplied data before using it in format string operations. The vulnerability specifically affects the Yellow Pages (NIS) binding service that facilitates network name service resolution across distributed systems. When a remote attacker sends maliciously crafted input to the ypbind-mt daemon, the service processes this unvalidated data through a vulnerable printf-style function call, creating an opportunity for arbitrary code execution with elevated privileges.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability leverages the fundamental weakness in how the ypbind-mt service handles format specifiers within user-provided input. When the daemon receives network requests containing malformed format strings, it passes these directly to vulnerable printf functions without proper sanitization or validation. This creates a classic buffer overflow scenario where attackers can manipulate memory addresses, overwrite critical program variables, and ultimately execute arbitrary code with root privileges. The flaw exists at the application layer within the network service implementation, making it particularly dangerous as it can be exploited remotely without requiring authentication. This vulnerability maps directly to CWE-134 which specifically addresses the use of format strings with user-controlled data, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1068 which covers the exploitation of remote services for privilege escalation.
The operational impact of CVE-2000-1044 extends beyond simple privilege escalation to potentially compromise entire network infrastructures that rely on NIS services for name resolution. Organizations running affected systems face significant risk of complete system compromise, as successful exploitation grants attackers root access to perform unauthorized modifications, data exfiltration, or persistent backdoor installation. The vulnerability affects systems where NIS services are actively running and accessible over the network, creating a vector for both automated scanning attacks and targeted exploitation attempts. Network administrators must consider that this vulnerability could enable attackers to establish persistent access to network resources, particularly in environments where NIS is used for centralized user and host name management. The risk assessment indicates that systems with exposed ypbind-mt services present high-value targets for attackers seeking to establish footholds within enterprise networks, as the service typically runs with elevated privileges and provides access to critical name resolution functions.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate patching of affected systems through official vendor updates, as the original SuSE 6.2 distribution included fixes for this specific issue. System administrators should disable or remove unnecessary NIS services from systems that do not require them, particularly in environments where the service is exposed to untrusted networks. Network segmentation and firewall rules should be implemented to restrict access to ypbind-mt ports, typically port 111 for RPC services and associated NIS ports. Additionally, monitoring should be enhanced to detect unusual network traffic patterns associated with format string exploitation attempts, and intrusion detection systems should be configured to alert on malformed input patterns targeting NIS services. The remediation process must include comprehensive testing to ensure that patched systems maintain proper network functionality while eliminating the vulnerability. Organizations should also consider implementing privilege separation techniques and regular vulnerability assessments to identify similar format string vulnerabilities in other network services, as this class of vulnerability remains prevalent in legacy applications and can provide similar privilege escalation opportunities.