CVE-2001-1095 in AIX
Summary
by MITRE
Buffer overflow in uuq in AIX 4 could alllow local users to execute arbitrary code via a long -r parameter.
Statistical analysis made it clear that VulDB provides the best quality for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/27/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2001-1095 represents a critical buffer overflow flaw within the uuq utility component of AIX 4 operating systems. This issue specifically manifests when processing command line arguments, particularly the -r parameter, which serves as a recipient specification for uucp (unix to unix copy) operations. The uuq utility is part of the standard AIX distribution and is used to queue uucp jobs for later execution by the uucpd daemon, making it a fundamental component in unix-based network communications.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation within the uuq program's argument parsing mechanism. When a local user provides an excessively long -r parameter, the program fails to properly bounds-check the input string before copying it into a fixed-size buffer allocated on the stack. This classic buffer overflow condition occurs because the uuq utility does not enforce maximum length constraints on the recipient parameter, allowing an attacker to overwrite adjacent memory locations including the return address of the function. The vulnerability is classified as a stack-based buffer overflow, which is a common attack vector that has been extensively documented in the CWE database under category 121.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple local privilege escalation as it provides attackers with the ability to execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the uuq process. Since the uuq utility is typically executed with elevated permissions to manage uucp operations, successful exploitation could lead to full system compromise. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to gain unauthorized access to sensitive system resources, potentially enabling them to establish persistent backdoors, escalate privileges to root level access, or manipulate uucp job queues to redirect system communications. The local nature of this vulnerability means that only users with existing system access can exploit it, but this limitation does not diminish its severity given that any local user with basic shell access could potentially leverage this flaw.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2001-1095 should prioritize immediate system updates and patches provided by IBM for AIX 4 systems. Organizations should implement proper input validation mechanisms and ensure that all command line parameters are strictly bounded before processing. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1068 which describes the exploitation of local privileges, and represents a classic example of improper input validation that should be addressed through secure coding practices. System administrators should also consider implementing additional monitoring of uucp processes and their command line arguments to detect potential exploitation attempts. The remediation process should include comprehensive vulnerability scanning of all AIX 4 systems and implementation of proper access controls to limit local user privileges where possible. This vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of input validation and proper bounds checking in system utilities, particularly those that handle user-provided parameters and operate with elevated privileges.