CVE-2001-0331 in IRIX
Summary
by MITRE
Buffer overflow in Embedded Support Partner (ESP) daemon (rpc.espd) in IRIX 6.5.8 and earlier allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary commands.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/07/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2001-0331 represents a critical buffer overflow flaw within the Embedded Support Partner daemon component of IRIX operating systems version 6.5.8 and earlier. This daemon, known as rpc.espd, serves as a remote procedure call service that facilitates communication between different system components. The buffer overflow occurs when the daemon processes incoming network requests without proper bounds checking on data buffers, creating an exploitable condition that can be leveraged by remote attackers to gain unauthorized system access.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from improper input validation within the rpc.espd daemon implementation. When network packets are received by the daemon, they contain data that is expected to be processed within predetermined buffer sizes. However, the daemon fails to validate the length of incoming data against the allocated buffer space, allowing maliciously crafted input to overflow the buffer and overwrite adjacent memory locations. This memory corruption can be manipulated to redirect program execution flow, potentially allowing an attacker to inject and execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the running daemon process.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability poses significant risk to systems running affected IRIX versions as it enables remote code execution without requiring authentication. The attack vector is particularly dangerous because it can be exploited over the network, allowing attackers to compromise systems from remote locations. The impact extends beyond simple privilege escalation to potentially full system compromise, as the daemon typically runs with elevated privileges to perform system management functions. Successful exploitation could result in unauthorized access to sensitive system data, complete system takeover, and potential use as a foothold for further network infiltration activities.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-121, which describes the classic stack-based buffer overflow condition, and represents a common attack pattern categorized under the ATT&CK framework as T1059.007 for command and scripting interpreter. Organizations running IRIX 6.5.8 or earlier should implement immediate mitigations including system updates and patches from Silicon Graphics, network segmentation to limit access to the affected daemon, and firewall rules blocking unnecessary RPC traffic. Additionally, monitoring network traffic for suspicious patterns and implementing intrusion detection systems can help identify exploitation attempts. The recommended approach involves applying the official IRIX security patches that address the buffer overflow condition through proper input validation and bounds checking mechanisms to prevent the overflow from occurring in the first place.