CVE-2001-0927 in Libgtop Daemon
Summary
by MITRE
Format string vulnerability in the permitted function of GNOME libgtop_daemon in libgtop 1.0.12 and earlier allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via an argument that contains format specifiers that are passed into the (1) syslog_message and (2) syslog_io_message functions.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/09/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2001-0927 represents a critical format string flaw within the GNOME libgtop_daemon component of the libgtop library version 1.0.12 and earlier. This issue specifically affects the permitted function within the daemon implementation where user-supplied input containing format specifiers is improperly handled and directly passed to system logging functions. The vulnerability exists in the syslog_message and syslog_io_message functions, which serve as critical communication pathways for system monitoring data within the GNOME desktop environment's performance monitoring infrastructure.
This format string vulnerability stems from the improper validation and sanitization of user input within the daemon's processing pipeline. When remote attackers provide malicious arguments containing format specifiers such as %s, %d, or %x, these sequences are interpreted by the printf-family functions without proper input validation. The flaw allows attackers to manipulate memory contents, potentially leading to arbitrary code execution within the context of the running daemon process. The vulnerability operates at the core of the system monitoring functionality where the daemon processes and logs performance data from various system components.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple privilege escalation as it provides attackers with the capability to execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the libgtop_daemon process. This typically translates to elevated system access that could enable further exploitation within the network environment. The remote nature of the attack means that adversaries can exploit this vulnerability without requiring local system access, making it particularly dangerous in networked environments where the daemon may be exposed to external network traffic. The vulnerability affects the integrity and confidentiality of system monitoring data while simultaneously creating a potential backdoor for persistent access.
Security practitioners should implement immediate mitigations including updating to libgtop version 1.0.13 or later where this vulnerability has been addressed through proper input validation and sanitization of user-supplied arguments. The fix typically involves implementing proper format string handling by using functions that accept format strings as separate parameters rather than allowing direct user input to influence format specifiers. Additionally, network segmentation should be employed to limit access to the daemon process, and access controls should be configured to restrict which systems can communicate with the monitoring daemon. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-134 which specifically addresses the use of format strings inappropriately, and represents a technique commonly used in exploit development that maps to ATT&CK tactics involving privilege escalation and code execution within system processes. Organizations should also consider implementing intrusion detection systems that monitor for suspicious format string patterns in system logs and network traffic to detect potential exploitation attempts.