CVE-2002-0017 in IRIX
Summary
by MITRE
Buffer overflow in SNMP daemon (snmpd) on SGI IRIX 6.5 through 6.5.15m allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via an SNMP request.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/16/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2002-0017 represents a critical buffer overflow flaw within the SNMP daemon implementation on SGI IRIX operating systems ranging from version 6.5 through 6.5.15m. This issue arises from inadequate input validation mechanisms within the snmpd service that processes incoming SNMP requests from remote network entities. The flaw manifests when the daemon receives malformed SNMP packets that exceed predetermined buffer boundaries, creating exploitable memory corruption conditions that can be leveraged by malicious actors to gain unauthorized system access. This vulnerability directly impacts the fundamental security posture of affected IRIX systems and represents a classic example of improper input handling that violates established security principles.
The technical implementation of this buffer overflow stems from the snmpd daemon's failure to properly validate the length of incoming SNMP request parameters before copying them into fixed-size memory buffers. When an attacker crafts specially designed SNMP packets containing oversized data payloads, the daemon's memory management routines overflow the allocated buffer space, potentially overwriting adjacent memory locations including return addresses and control data structures. This type of vulnerability maps directly to CWE-121, which categorizes buffer overflow conditions that occur when insufficient bounds checking allows data to be written beyond the allocated buffer boundaries. The exploitation process typically involves crafting SNMP requests that trigger the overflow condition, potentially allowing attackers to overwrite the instruction pointer and redirect execution flow to malicious code injected into the process memory space.
The operational impact of CVE-2002-0017 extends beyond simple privilege escalation to encompass complete system compromise and potential network infiltration. Remote attackers can leverage this vulnerability to execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the snmpd process, which typically runs with elevated system permissions to facilitate network monitoring operations. Successful exploitation can result in persistent backdoor access, data exfiltration, system denial of service, and further lateral movement within compromised network environments. The vulnerability's remote exploitability means that attackers need only have network access to target systems, making it particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where SNMP services are commonly enabled for network management purposes. This aligns with ATT&CK technique T1078 which covers legitimate credentials and service accounts as a means of gaining access to systems, and T1203 which covers legitimate user access to execute malicious code.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2002-0017 require immediate implementation of vendor-provided security patches and updates to address the underlying buffer overflow conditions. System administrators should disable unnecessary SNMP services or implement strict network access controls to limit exposure to untrusted networks. The recommended approach includes applying the official IRIX security patches released by SGI to correct the buffer overflow handling within the snmpd daemon. Network segmentation and firewall rules should be implemented to restrict SNMP traffic to authorized management systems only, preventing unauthorized access to vulnerable systems. Additionally, monitoring and logging of SNMP traffic should be enhanced to detect anomalous packet patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts. Security teams should also consider implementing intrusion detection systems that can identify and alert on known exploit signatures targeting this specific vulnerability, as the ATT&CK framework suggests that organizations should employ defensive measures that include network monitoring and anomaly detection to prevent successful exploitation of such buffer overflow vulnerabilities.