CVE-2001-0799 in IRIX
Summary
by MITRE
Buffer overflows in lpsched in IRIX 6.5.13f and earlier allow remote attackers to execute arbitrary commands via a long argument.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/30/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2001-0799 represents a critical buffer overflow flaw within the lpsched component of IRIX operating systems version 6.5.13f and earlier. This issue resides in the line printer scheduler daemon that handles print job processing and queue management. The buffer overflow occurs when the lpsched service receives a malformed argument that exceeds the allocated buffer space, creating a condition where adjacent memory locations can be overwritten with attacker-controlled data. This particular vulnerability affects the print spooling functionality of IRIX systems, which were widely deployed in enterprise environments for managing print services across networked workstations and servers.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability follows a classic buffer overflow pattern where an attacker can craft a specially formatted argument that exceeds the predetermined buffer limits within the lpsched process. When the service processes this oversized argument, the excess data overflows into adjacent memory regions, potentially corrupting the stack frame and allowing an attacker to overwrite the return address of the executing function. This memory corruption enables remote code execution with the privileges of the lpsched process, which typically runs with elevated permissions to manage print services. The vulnerability specifically impacts the argument parsing mechanism within the print scheduler, making it accessible through network-based attacks that can be initiated from remote locations without requiring authentication.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability poses significant risks to IRIX systems deployed in enterprise environments where print services are critical infrastructure components. The remote execution capability means that attackers can compromise systems without physical access or prior authentication, making it particularly dangerous for networked environments where print servers are exposed to external networks. The impact extends beyond simple command execution as the compromised print scheduler service can be leveraged to gain further access to the underlying system, potentially leading to complete system compromise. Organizations relying on IRIX for print management services faced substantial security risks, especially given the widespread use of these systems in financial institutions, government agencies, and large enterprises during the early 2000s.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-121, which describes stack-based buffer overflow conditions, and represents a classic example of improper input validation in system services. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to T1059 for command and scripting interpreter and T1068 for exploit for privilege escalation. The attack surface is particularly concerning as print services are often configured to run with elevated privileges and may be accessible from untrusted networks. Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including applying vendor patches, restricting network access to print services, and implementing network segmentation to isolate print servers from critical production systems. Additionally, monitoring for unusual print job submissions and implementing input validation controls within print service configurations can help detect and prevent exploitation attempts. The vulnerability highlights the importance of proper buffer management and input validation in system services, particularly those that process external data from network sources, and serves as a historical example of how seemingly minor implementation flaws can result in critical security vulnerabilities.