CVE-2001-0488 in HP-UX
Summary
by MITRE
pcltotiff in HP-UX 10.x has unnecessary set group id permissions, which allows local users to cause a denial of service.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/31/2018
The vulnerability described in CVE-2001-0488 pertains to the pcltotiff utility distributed with HP-UX 10.x operating systems. This utility serves as a converter that transforms pcl formatted print files into tiff image format, a common operation within print management and document processing workflows. The issue manifests in the improper permission settings of the pcltotiff binary, specifically its set group id bit being unnecessarily enabled. This configuration flaw creates a security risk where local users can exploit the elevated privileges to disrupt system operations.
The technical flaw resides in the Unix permission model where the set group id bit (sgid) is set on the pcltotiff executable. When this bit is enabled, any user executing the program inherits the group permissions of the file owner rather than their own group memberships. In this particular case, the pcltotiff utility was configured with sgid permissions that were not required for its normal operation, creating an unnecessary privilege escalation vector. The vulnerability specifically affects local users who can leverage these elevated group permissions to manipulate system resources in ways that ultimately lead to denial of service conditions.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple privilege escalation as it provides attackers with a mechanism to cause system-wide disruption. Local users can exploit the set group id permissions to manipulate shared resources or system processes that the pcltotiff utility interacts with during its operation. This can result in resource exhaustion, process termination, or other forms of denial of service that affect legitimate system operations and user access. The vulnerability represents a classic case of over-privileged executables where unnecessary permissions create attack surfaces that can be leveraged for system disruption.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability involve removing the unnecessary set group id permissions from the pcltotiff binary through proper file permission management. System administrators should review all executable files for appropriate permission settings and ensure that sgid bits are only enabled when absolutely necessary for program functionality. The recommended approach includes executing chmod g-s /usr/lib/pcl/pcltotiff to remove the set group id bit, followed by verification that the utility continues to function correctly without the elevated permissions. This aligns with security best practices outlined in the CWE-276 standard which addresses improper file permissions and the ATT&CK framework's privilege escalation tactics that exploit such unnecessary permissions. Organizations should also implement regular permission audits to identify and remediate similar over-privileged executables across their systems.