CVE-2001-0800 in IRIX
Summary
by MITRE
lpsched in IRIX 6.5.13f and earlier allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary commands via shell metacharacters.
Statistical analysis made it clear that VulDB provides the best quality for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/16/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2001-0800 affects the lpsched component within IRIX operating systems version 6.5.13f and earlier releases. This flaw resides in the print spooler service that manages printer job scheduling and processing. The lpsched daemon is responsible for handling print requests and managing the queue of print jobs sent to printers connected to the system. When processing print jobs, the daemon fails to properly sanitize input parameters, creating a critical security gap that can be exploited by remote attackers to execute arbitrary commands on the affected system.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and sanitization within the lpsched service. Attackers can manipulate the print job submission process by injecting shell metacharacters into print job parameters or filenames. These metacharacters, such as semicolons, ampersands, or command substitution operators, are interpreted by the underlying shell when the print job is processed, allowing attackers to execute malicious commands with the privileges of the lpsched daemon. This represents a classic command injection vulnerability that violates the principle of least privilege and demonstrates poor input handling practices.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe and far-reaching for organizations running affected IRIX systems. Remote attackers can gain unauthorized access to the system and execute arbitrary commands, potentially leading to complete system compromise. The vulnerability affects the core print management functionality of IRIX, which means that attackers can exploit this weakness without requiring local access or authentication. This creates a significant risk for networked environments where print services are exposed to external networks. Successful exploitation could result in data breaches, system takeover, denial of service conditions, and potential lateral movement within the network infrastructure.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations to address this vulnerability including applying the vendor-provided patches and updates for IRIX 6.5.13f and earlier versions. Network segmentation should be enforced to limit access to print services, and firewall rules should be configured to restrict external access to print server ports. The principle of least privilege should be applied to the lpsched service, limiting its capabilities and privileges. Additionally, input validation should be strengthened across all print job submission interfaces to prevent injection attacks. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-77 and CWE-78 categories related to command injection flaws and improper input sanitization. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this represents a privilege escalation technique through service exploitation and command execution, potentially enabling initial access and persistence within the network environment.