CVE-2001-0176 in Sonata
Summary
by MITRE
The setuid doroot program in Voyant Sonata 3.x executes arbitrary command line arguments, which allows local users to gain root privileges.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/03/2014
The vulnerability described in CVE-2001-0176 represents a critical privilege escalation flaw within the Voyant Sonata 3.x software suite. This issue specifically targets the setuid doroot program, which is designed to execute with elevated privileges to perform system-level operations. The fundamental problem lies in the improper handling of command line arguments within this privileged execution context, creating an exploitable condition that allows local attackers to manipulate the program's behavior. The vulnerability exists because the doroot program fails to properly sanitize or validate input parameters, enabling malicious users to inject arbitrary commands that execute with root privileges. This flaw directly violates security principles by permitting unauthorized code execution with elevated system permissions.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from the program's insecure use of system calls and command execution functions. When the doroot program processes command line arguments, it likely employs functions such as system() or exec() without adequate input validation or sanitization. This creates a command injection vector where attackers can append malicious commands to legitimate program arguments. The setuid bit on the doroot program ensures that any commands executed through this interface run with root privileges, making the impact of this injection severe. According to CWE-78, this vulnerability maps directly to improper neutralization of special elements used in OS commands, which is a well-documented weakness in software security. The attack surface is further expanded because the program is designed to be locally executable, meaning any user on the system can potentially exploit this flaw without requiring remote access.
The operational impact of CVE-2001-0176 is substantial as it provides local users with complete system compromise capabilities. Once exploited, attackers can execute arbitrary code with root privileges, allowing them to modify system files, install backdoors, escalate privileges further, or completely compromise the system's integrity. The vulnerability essentially transforms any local user account into a root-level attacker, undermining the fundamental security model of Unix-like systems where privilege separation is crucial. This type of local privilege escalation is particularly dangerous in multi-user environments where users may not be trusted, as it eliminates the security boundary between regular users and system administrators. The vulnerability also aligns with ATT&CK technique T1068, which describes the use of local privilege escalation techniques to gain system-level access. Additionally, this flaw demonstrates poor secure coding practices and violates the principle of least privilege, as the program unnecessarily operates with root privileges when it could potentially perform its functions with reduced permissions.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate action to address the root cause of the insecure command execution. The most effective approach involves modifying the doroot program to properly validate and sanitize all command line arguments before processing them. This can be achieved through input filtering mechanisms that prevent special characters or command sequences from being interpreted as executable code. The program should implement proper argument parsing that either rejects suspicious input or properly escapes special characters to prevent command injection. System administrators should also consider removing the setuid bit from the doroot program if its functionality can be performed without elevated privileges, or alternatively, redesign the program to use privilege separation techniques. According to industry best practices, this vulnerability highlights the importance of the principle of least privilege and proper input validation as outlined in the OWASP Top Ten security framework. Regular security audits and code reviews should be implemented to identify similar issues in other setuid programs, as these types of vulnerabilities remain common in legacy software systems and represent a significant risk to system security.