CVE-2001-0817 in HP-UX
Summary
by MITRE
Vulnerability in HP-UX line printer daemon (rlpdaemon) in HP-UX 10.01 through 11.11 allows remote attackers to modify arbitrary files and gain root privileges via a certain print request.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/22/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2001-0817 represents a critical security flaw within the HP-UX line printer daemon known as rlpdaemon, affecting HP-UX operating systems from version 10.01 through 11.11. This issue falls under the category of privilege escalation vulnerabilities and demonstrates how printer daemon services can become attack vectors for remote exploitation. The vulnerability specifically targets the handling of print requests within the rlpdaemon service, creating a pathway for unauthorized modification of system files and potential elevation to root privileges.
The technical flaw resides in the improper validation and handling of print requests submitted to the rlpdaemon service. When processing certain print jobs, the daemon fails to properly sanitize input parameters, allowing attackers to craft malicious print requests that manipulate the file system operations. This vulnerability enables attackers to specify arbitrary file paths and perform file operations that should normally be restricted to privileged users. The flaw essentially allows remote attackers to bypass normal access controls and execute file modification operations with elevated privileges, directly compromising the integrity of the system's file system.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability presents a severe risk to HP-UX systems as it allows remote attackers to gain root access without requiring local system access or valid credentials. The attack can be executed entirely over the network, making it particularly dangerous for systems with network-accessible print services. Successful exploitation enables attackers to modify critical system files, install backdoors, or perform other malicious activities that could compromise the entire system. The vulnerability affects the fundamental security model of the operating system by allowing unauthorized file system manipulation through a legitimate service, potentially leading to complete system compromise and data breaches.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-22, which describes improper limitation of a pathname to a restricted directory, commonly known as path traversal attacks. This classification indicates that the flaw involves insufficient restriction of pathnames, allowing attackers to access files outside of intended directories. Additionally, this vulnerability maps to ATT&CK technique T1068, which covers "Exploitation for Privilege Escalation" and specifically addresses how attackers can exploit software vulnerabilities to gain higher privileges. Organizations running affected HP-UX versions should implement immediate mitigations including disabling unnecessary print services, applying security patches from HP, and implementing network segmentation to restrict access to print services. The recommended approach includes patching the rlpdaemon service to properly validate input parameters and restrict file system access operations, ensuring that print requests cannot be used to manipulate arbitrary files on the system.