CVE-2002-0062 in FreeBSD
Summary
by MITRE
Buffer overflow in ncurses 5.0, and the ncurses4 compatibility package as used in Red Hat Linux, allows local users to gain privileges, related to "routines for moving the physical cursor and scrolling."
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/23/2026
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2002-0062 represents a critical buffer overflow flaw within the ncurses library version 5.0 and its ncurses4 compatibility package implementation in Red Hat Linux systems. This security weakness specifically affects the routines responsible for moving the physical cursor and scrolling operations within terminal environments. The ncurses library serves as a fundamental component for terminal handling and user interface management across Unix-like operating systems, making this vulnerability particularly significant given its widespread deployment in enterprise and server environments.
The technical flaw manifests when applications utilizing the ncurses library process cursor movement and scrolling commands with insufficient input validation. When malicious input is provided to these specific routines, it can overwrite adjacent memory locations beyond the allocated buffer boundaries. This buffer overflow condition creates an opportunity for privilege escalation attacks, as local users can manipulate the memory layout to execute arbitrary code with elevated privileges. The vulnerability stems from improper bounds checking within the terminal manipulation functions, allowing attackers to inject malicious data that overflows the designated buffer space.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple privilege escalation to encompass potential system compromise and unauthorized access to sensitive data. Local users who can execute applications linked against the vulnerable ncurses library can leverage this flaw to gain root or administrative privileges, effectively bypassing standard security controls. This presents a significant risk in multi-user environments where users may have limited access but could exploit this vulnerability to elevate their privileges. The attack vector requires local system access but does not necessitate network connectivity, making it particularly dangerous in environments where local access is not properly restricted.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2002-0062 primarily involve immediate patching of the affected ncurses library components and updating to versions that include proper input validation and buffer boundary checks. System administrators should prioritize applying security updates from Red Hat and ensuring that all applications relying on ncurses are updated to versions that address this vulnerability. Additionally, implementing proper access controls and monitoring for unusual privilege escalation attempts can help detect exploitation attempts. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-121, which addresses stack-based buffer overflow conditions, and falls under ATT&CK technique T1068, involving privilege escalation through local exploitation. Organizations should also consider implementing application whitelisting and runtime protection mechanisms to prevent exploitation of similar buffer overflow vulnerabilities in other system components.