CVE-2001-0587 in OpenServer
Summary
by MITRE
deliver program in MMDF 2.43.3b in SCO OpenServer 5.0.6 can allow a local attacker to gain additional privileges via a buffer overflow in the first argument to the command.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/27/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2001-0587 resides within the deliver program of MMDF version 2.43.3b distributed with SCO OpenServer 5.0.6 operating system. This represents a classic buffer overflow flaw that occurs when processing command line arguments, specifically the first argument passed to the deliver command. The issue manifests as a local privilege escalation vulnerability that can be exploited by malicious users with existing system access to elevate their privileges to higher system levels.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation within the deliver program's argument parsing mechanism. When the program receives command line arguments, it fails to properly check the length of the first argument against the allocated buffer space, allowing an attacker to overflow the buffer and potentially overwrite adjacent memory locations. This type of flaw falls under the CWE-121 category of stack-based buffer overflow, which is a well-documented vulnerability pattern that has been extensively catalogued in the CWE database and frequently referenced in cybersecurity threat intelligence.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents a significant risk to systems running SCO OpenServer 5.0.6 with MMDF 2.43.3b, as it allows local attackers to gain additional privileges without requiring authentication. The attack vector is particularly concerning because it leverages existing system access to escalate privileges, which aligns with ATT&CK technique T1068 for privilege escalation. Once successfully exploited, an attacker could potentially gain root or administrative privileges, providing complete control over the affected system and its resources.
The impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple privilege escalation, as it could enable attackers to manipulate system configurations, access sensitive data, install malicious software, or establish persistent access to the compromised system. The exploitability of this vulnerability is relatively straightforward for attackers who already have local access, making it a particularly dangerous flaw in environments where local system access cannot be strictly controlled. Organizations running this specific software combination should prioritize patching or implementing mitigations to prevent unauthorized privilege escalation.
Security practitioners should note that this vulnerability exemplifies the importance of proper input validation and buffer management in system-level software. The flaw demonstrates how seemingly minor implementation oversights in command line argument handling can create significant security risks. Organizations should implement comprehensive patch management strategies and conduct regular vulnerability assessments to identify and remediate similar buffer overflow vulnerabilities in their system software components. The vulnerability also underscores the need for defensive programming practices that include bounds checking, input validation, and secure coding methodologies to prevent such issues from occurring in future software development cycles.