CVE-2000-1214 in iputils
Summary
by MITRE
Buffer overflows in the (1) outpack or (2) buf variables of ping in iputils before 20001010, as distributed on Red Hat Linux 6.2 through 7J and other operating systems, may allow local users to gain privileges.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/21/2024
The vulnerability described in CVE-2000-1214 represents a critical buffer overflow flaw affecting the ping utility within the iputils package prior to version 20001010. This issue specifically targets two variables named outpack and buf within the ping implementation, creating potential exploitation pathways for local attackers. The vulnerability was prevalent across multiple operating systems including Red Hat Linux versions 6.2 through 7J, making it a widespread concern for system administrators and security professionals during that time period. The flaw resides in the fundamental network utility that most systems rely upon for basic connectivity testing and network diagnostics.
The technical nature of this buffer overflow stems from insufficient bounds checking within the ping utility's handling of network packet data. When the ping command processes incoming network responses or constructs outgoing packets, it manipulates the outpack and buf variables without adequate validation of data lengths. This lack of input sanitization allows malicious local users to craft specially formatted network data that exceeds the allocated buffer space, resulting in memory corruption. The overflow can overwrite adjacent memory locations including return addresses, function pointers, or other critical program state information, potentially enabling privilege escalation attacks.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple denial of service scenarios, as local users with minimal privileges can exploit the buffer overflow to gain elevated system access. This privilege escalation capability transforms what might appear to be a network utility flaw into a serious security concern for system integrity. The vulnerability affects systems where ping is commonly used for network troubleshooting, making it particularly dangerous in environments where local users have access to command line interfaces. Attackers can leverage this flaw to execute arbitrary code with higher privileges, potentially compromising entire systems or establishing persistent access points within network infrastructures.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2000-1214 require immediate patching of affected iputils packages to versions released after October 10, 2000, which contain proper buffer size validation and bounds checking mechanisms. System administrators should prioritize updating the iputils package on all affected systems, particularly those running Red Hat Linux 6.2 through 7J versions. Additional protective measures include restricting local user access to ping commands where possible, implementing proper privilege separation, and conducting comprehensive system audits to identify any potential exploitation attempts. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-121 which describes heap-based buffer overflow conditions, and represents a classic example of how network utilities can become attack vectors when insufficient input validation is implemented. From an ATT&CK perspective, this vulnerability maps to privilege escalation techniques where local users leverage software flaws to gain elevated system privileges, highlighting the importance of maintaining secure coding practices in system utilities that operate with elevated privileges.