CVE-2001-1509 in HP-UX
Summary
by MITRE
geteuid in Itanium Architecture (IA) running on HP-UX 11.20 does not properly identify a user s effective user id, which could allow local users to gain privileges.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/27/2019
The vulnerability described in CVE-2001-1509 represents a critical privilege escalation flaw within the Itanium Architecture implementation on HP-UX 11.20 systems. This issue specifically affects the geteuid system call which is responsible for retrieving the effective user identifier of the calling process. The improper implementation of this function on IA processors creates a scenario where local attackers can manipulate the effective user ID returned by the system call, potentially allowing them to execute code with elevated privileges beyond their normal user permissions. This vulnerability directly impacts the core security model of the operating system by undermining the fundamental principle of user privilege isolation that is essential for maintaining system integrity.
The technical flaw stems from how the geteuid function handles effective user ID identification on Itanium-based HP-UX systems. In a properly functioning system, geteuid should consistently return the effective user ID that the process should operate under, typically reflecting the user who owns the process or the user that the process has been granted privileges to act as. However, on HP-UX 11.20 systems running on IA architecture, the implementation contains a logical error or incomplete handling of the effective user ID state that can result in the system returning incorrect or manipulated user ID values. This flaw is particularly concerning because it occurs at the kernel level within a critical system call that many applications depend upon for security decisions.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is significant for systems running HP-UX 11.20 on Itanium processors, as local users who can execute programs on these systems can exploit this weakness to escalate their privileges. Attackers can potentially leverage this flaw to gain root access or other elevated privileges, allowing them to execute arbitrary code, modify system files, or access sensitive data that would normally be restricted to authorized users. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous in multi-user environments where multiple users share the same system, as it provides a mechanism for one user to compromise another user's processes or even the entire system. This type of privilege escalation vulnerability is classified under CWE-264 as "Permissions, Privileges, and Access Controls" and can be mapped to ATT&CK technique T1068 which covers "Exploitation for Privilege Escalation."
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on immediate system updates and patches provided by HP to address the specific implementation flaw in the geteuid function. Organizations should prioritize applying the vendor-supplied security patches that correct the effective user ID handling on Itanium-based systems. Additionally, system administrators should implement strict access controls and monitoring to detect unauthorized privilege escalation attempts. The vulnerability highlights the importance of thorough testing of system calls and kernel implementations, particularly when supporting specialized architectures like Itanium. System hardening measures such as disabling unnecessary services, implementing proper user account management, and maintaining regular security audits should also be employed. Organizations should also consider implementing intrusion detection systems that can monitor for suspicious privilege escalation activities, as this vulnerability could be exploited as part of a broader attack chain targeting system security. The flaw serves as a reminder of the critical importance of maintaining up-to-date system software and the potential consequences of implementation errors in core operating system functions that are fundamental to security enforcement.