CVE-2001-0248 in HP-UX
Summary
by MITRE
Buffer overflow in FTP server in HPUX 11 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary commands by creating a long pathname and calling the STAT command, which uses glob to generate long strings.
If you want to get best quality of vulnerability data, you may have to visit VulDB.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/10/2019
The vulnerability described in CVE-2001-0248 represents a critical buffer overflow flaw affecting the FTP server component of Hewlett-Packard Unix version 11. This security weakness resides in the server's handling of pathname data during STAT command execution, creating a significant attack surface for remote threat actors. The vulnerability specifically manifests when the FTP server processes excessively long pathnames, leveraging the glob function to generate extended string sequences that exceed allocated buffer boundaries.
The technical implementation of this flaw involves the improper management of string data within the FTP server's command processing pipeline. When a remote attacker submits a malformed pathname containing an excessive number of characters through the STAT command, the system's glob function processes this input without adequate bounds checking. The glob function, designed to expand wildcards in pathnames, creates extended string representations that surpass the predetermined buffer limits, resulting in memory corruption. This memory corruption enables attackers to overwrite adjacent memory locations, potentially allowing arbitrary code execution with the privileges of the FTP service account.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents a severe risk to systems running HP-UX 11 with FTP services enabled. The remote exploit capability means that attackers can leverage this flaw from any network location without requiring local system access or authentication credentials. The impact extends beyond simple command execution to potentially full system compromise, as the FTP service typically runs with elevated privileges. Organizations utilizing this platform face significant exposure, particularly in environments where FTP services are accessible from untrusted networks or where multiple users have access to the system.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-121, which categorizes buffer overflow conditions where insufficient bounds checking allows attackers to write beyond allocated memory regions. This flaw also maps to ATT&CK technique T1190, which describes the exploitation of remote services through buffer overflow vulnerabilities in network applications. The attack vector specifically involves network-based exploitation of the FTP service, where the attacker crafts malicious input to trigger the buffer overflow condition. The lack of input sanitization in the pathname handling process creates a direct pathway for malicious code injection through the glob function's processing of extended string data.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should include immediate implementation of vendor security patches provided by Hewlett-Packard, which would address the buffer overflow in the FTP server's pathname handling routine. Organizations should also consider implementing network segmentation to restrict access to FTP services, particularly from untrusted networks. Additional protective measures include deploying intrusion detection systems to monitor for suspicious STAT command usage and implementing input validation controls that limit pathname length before processing. System administrators should also consider disabling unnecessary FTP services and implementing alternative secure file transfer protocols such as SFTP or FTPS where possible. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be conducted to identify similar buffer overflow conditions in other system components, as this represents a common class of vulnerability in legacy Unix implementations.