CVE-2001-1429 in Midnight Commander
Summary
by MITRE
Buffer overflow in mcedit in Midnight Commander 4.5.1 allows local users to cause a denial of service (segmentation fault) and possibly execute arbitrary code via a crafted text file.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/15/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2001-1429 represents a critical buffer overflow flaw within the mcedit component of Midnight Commander version 4.5.1. This issue specifically affects the text editing functionality that users employ to view and modify files within the terminal-based file manager interface. The buffer overflow occurs when the mcedit utility processes specially crafted text files that contain excessive data beyond the allocated memory buffer boundaries. Such malformed input can cause the application to write beyond its intended memory allocation, leading to unpredictable behavior and system instability.
The technical nature of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-121, which describes stack-based buffer overflow conditions where insufficient bounds checking allows attackers to overwrite adjacent memory locations. The flaw manifests when mcedit attempts to handle input data that exceeds the predetermined buffer size, creating a scenario where memory corruption occurs during text processing operations. The vulnerability specifically impacts the local user attack surface since the malicious input must be processed by the same user account running the mcedit utility, though this limitation does not diminish its potential impact on system security.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents significant risks to system availability and integrity. Local users can trigger segmentation faults that cause the mcedit utility to crash and terminate unexpectedly, resulting in denial of service conditions that disrupt normal file management operations. The potential for arbitrary code execution adds another layer of severity, as attackers could leverage this vulnerability to gain elevated privileges or execute malicious payloads within the context of the user's session. The attack vector requires the user to open a specifically crafted text file, making it a targeted local privilege escalation risk rather than a remote exploit.
The attack pattern associated with this vulnerability follows ATT&CK technique T1068, which involves the exploitation of legitimate user privileges to execute malicious code. The vulnerability can be exploited through a series of steps where an attacker creates or modifies a text file containing malicious buffer overflow data, then persuades a victim to open the file using mcedit. This approach aligns with the broader category of privilege escalation attacks that leverage application flaws to gain unauthorized access to system resources. Organizations should implement comprehensive patch management programs to address this vulnerability, as the affected version of Midnight Commander is no longer supported and lacks modern security protections.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2001-1429 include immediate patching of the Midnight Commander installation to a version that addresses the buffer overflow issue. System administrators should also implement input validation controls and file access restrictions to limit exposure to malformed text files. Regular security audits of terminal-based applications and user access controls can help prevent exploitation attempts. Additionally, monitoring for unusual application crashes or segmentation faults in the mcedit utility can serve as early warning indicators of attempted exploitation. The vulnerability underscores the importance of maintaining up-to-date software versions and implementing defense-in-depth strategies that protect against both known and emerging threats in local system environments.