CVE-2001-1036 in findutils
Summary
by MITRE
GNU locate in findutils 4.1 on Slackware 7.1 and 8.0 allows local users to gain privileges via an old formatted filename database (locatedb) that contains an entry with an out-of-range offset, which causes locate to write to arbitrary process memory.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/11/2024
The vulnerability described in CVE-2001-1036 represents a critical memory corruption flaw within the GNU locate utility that shipped with findutils 4.1 on Slackware 7.1 and 8.0 systems. This issue stems from inadequate input validation when processing the locatedb database file, which serves as the indexed repository for file locations that the locate command queries. The vulnerability specifically manifests when the locate utility encounters a malformed database entry containing an out-of-range offset value that exceeds the legitimate memory boundaries of the application's processing routines.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through manipulation of the locatedb file, which is typically maintained by the updatedb utility as part of the standard system maintenance process. When locate processes this database, it attempts to parse each entry using a format that specifies memory offsets for file paths within the database structure. An attacker who can modify the locatedb file can insert an entry with an offset value that points beyond the valid memory range, causing the locate utility to write data to arbitrary memory locations. This memory corruption directly violates the principle of memory safety and creates opportunities for privilege escalation.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability enables local users to escalate their privileges from standard user level to root access, representing a significant security risk for any system where locate is installed with setuid root permissions. The flaw essentially provides an attacker with a mechanism to execute arbitrary code within the context of the locate process, which runs with elevated privileges due to its setuid bit. The attack vector requires local access to the system and the ability to modify the locatedb file, making it a privilege escalation vulnerability rather than a remote attack vector, but it remains particularly dangerous in multi-user environments.
The underlying cause of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-121, which describes heap-based buffer overflow conditions, and CWE-125, which covers out-of-bounds read errors. The flaw demonstrates poor input validation and memory management practices that allow attackers to manipulate the program's execution flow through carefully crafted database entries. The vulnerability also maps to ATT&CK technique T1068, which covers "Exploitation for Privilege Escalation" and specifically addresses how attackers can leverage existing system utilities to gain elevated privileges.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability include immediate patching of the findutils package to a version that properly validates database offsets before processing them, ensuring that the locatedb file is not writable by non-privileged users, and implementing proper file permissions on the database file itself. System administrators should also consider disabling the setuid bit on locate if the functionality is not essential, or implementing stricter file integrity monitoring to detect unauthorized modifications to the locatedb file. The vulnerability underscores the importance of input validation in system utilities and the critical need for proper memory management practices in security-sensitive applications.