CVE-2001-0978 in HP-UX
Summary
by MITRE
login in HP-UX 10.26 does not record failed login attempts in /var/adm/btmp, which could allow attackers to conduct brute force password guessing attacks without being detected or observed using the lastb program.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/09/2024
The vulnerability described in CVE-2001-0978 represents a significant security flaw in the HP-UX 10.26 operating system's authentication logging mechanism. This issue specifically affects the login service component that is responsible for recording authentication attempts within the system's security audit infrastructure. The failure to properly log failed login attempts in the designated binary log file at /var/adm/btmp creates a blind spot in the system's ability to detect and respond to unauthorized access attempts. This weakness directly undermines the fundamental security principle of maintaining comprehensive audit trails that are essential for both compliance requirements and threat detection activities.
The technical flaw manifests as a missing or incomplete logging mechanism that should normally capture failed authentication events in the btmp file format. This binary file serves as a critical component of the system's security monitoring infrastructure, providing administrators with the ability to track failed login attempts through tools like lastb. The absence of failed login records in this location means that any brute force password guessing attacks can proceed undetected, as the system's built-in monitoring capabilities fail to capture these malicious activities. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-778, which addresses insufficient logging of authentication events, and represents a classic case of inadequate audit trail implementation that leaves systems vulnerable to automated attack vectors.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple detection gaps to create substantial risks for system security and integrity. Attackers can exploit this weakness by conducting systematic brute force attacks against user accounts without fear of immediate detection, as the system's normal monitoring processes fail to record these attempts. The lastb utility, which is specifically designed to display failed login attempts from the btmp file, becomes ineffective against such attacks, removing a crucial defensive measure that system administrators rely upon for security monitoring. This vulnerability creates an environment where unauthorized access attempts can persist for extended periods without alerting system operators, potentially allowing attackers to successfully compromise accounts through repeated guessing attempts.
Organizations running HP-UX 10.26 systems face significant exposure risks when this vulnerability remains unaddressed, particularly in environments where security monitoring is critical for compliance with regulatory requirements such as the Sarbanes-Oxley Act or other security frameworks. The lack of detection capability for brute force attacks represents a fundamental weakness that can be exploited by attackers with minimal technical expertise, as the attack vectors do not require sophisticated techniques or tools to bypass the system's logging mechanisms. This vulnerability also impacts the system's ability to meet security baseline requirements defined by frameworks like NIST SP 800-53, which mandate comprehensive audit logging for authentication events. The absence of failed login records in the btmp file creates gaps in the security posture that can be easily exploited by automated attack tools, making the system particularly vulnerable to credential stuffing and password spraying attacks that rely on repeated authentication attempts to gain unauthorized access.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on implementing comprehensive logging mechanisms that ensure all authentication attempts, both successful and failed, are properly recorded in the designated audit files. System administrators should verify that the login service configuration properly writes failed authentication events to /var/adm/btmp and that monitoring tools are appropriately configured to detect and alert on unusual authentication patterns. The implementation of additional security controls such as account lockout mechanisms, failed login attempt thresholds, and real-time monitoring of authentication events can help compensate for the logging deficiency. Organizations should also consider implementing intrusion detection systems that can monitor network traffic and authentication patterns to detect brute force attacks even when the system's native logging mechanisms fail to capture these events. Regular security audits and compliance assessments should verify that authentication logging is functioning correctly and that appropriate detection measures are in place to identify unauthorized access attempts that might otherwise go unnoticed due to this logging deficiency.