CVE-2001-0976 in Process Resource Manager
Summary
by MITRE
Vulnerability in HP Process Resource Manager (PRM) C.01.08.2 and earlier, as used by HP-UX Workload Manager (WLM), allows local users to gain root privileges via modified libraries or environment variables.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/08/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2001-0976 represents a critical privilege escalation flaw within HP Process Resource Manager version C.01.08.2 and earlier implementations. This vulnerability specifically affects systems running HP-UX Workload Manager which relies on PRM for resource management and process control. The flaw stems from insufficient input validation and improper privilege handling mechanisms within the system's library loading and environment variable processing components. Attackers exploiting this vulnerability can manipulate system behavior by introducing modified libraries or altering environment variables to achieve unauthorized root access.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through manipulation of dynamic library loading sequences and environment variable configurations. When the affected PRM component processes user input or environment variables, it fails to properly validate the integrity and authenticity of library paths or environmental settings. This allows local attackers to substitute legitimate system libraries with malicious versions or modify environmental variables to redirect program execution paths. The vulnerability specifically targets the privilege separation mechanisms that should prevent unprivileged users from gaining elevated system privileges, creating a direct pathway for privilege escalation attacks.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability poses significant risks to HP-UX systems implementing Workload Manager functionality. Local users who can execute processes on the affected systems gain the ability to escalate their privileges to root level, potentially allowing full system compromise. The exploitation requires local access but does not need network connectivity or complex attack vectors, making it particularly dangerous in environments where local user access is not strictly controlled. Organizations running affected versions face potential data breaches, system compromise, and complete loss of system integrity if exploited successfully.
The vulnerability maps to CWE-276, which describes improper privilege management, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1068, which covers privilege escalation through local exploitation. Organizations should immediately implement mitigation strategies including applying the latest security patches from HP, reviewing and restricting local user access privileges, implementing strict library loading policies, and monitoring for unauthorized environment variable modifications. System administrators should also consider implementing additional security controls such as file integrity monitoring and privilege separation enforcement to prevent exploitation of this and similar vulnerabilities in the future.