CVE-2002-0158 in Solaris
Summary
by MITRE
Buffer overflow in Xsun on Solaris 2.6 through 8 allows local users to gain root privileges via a long -co (color database) command line argument.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/10/2025
The vulnerability described in CVE-2002-0158 represents a classic buffer overflow flaw within the Xsun X Window System implementation on Solaris operating systems versions 2.6 through 8. This security weakness specifically manifests when processing command line arguments, particularly the -co option that specifies color database files. The flaw exists in the Xsun server component which handles graphical display operations and is part of the broader X Window System architecture that provides graphical user interfaces on Unix-like systems. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it allows local users to escalate their privileges from standard user accounts to root access, making it a critical security issue for systems running affected Solaris versions.
The technical mechanism behind this buffer overflow involves improper input validation within the Xsun server's argument parsing routine. When a user provides an excessively long argument to the -co command line option, the program fails to properly bounds-check the input data before copying it into a fixed-size buffer allocated in memory. This classic buffer overflow condition occurs because the implementation does not verify that the length of the color database specification exceeds the allocated buffer capacity, allowing attackers to overwrite adjacent memory locations including return addresses and control data structures. The flaw is categorized under CWE-121 as a stack-based buffer overflow, where the buffer overflow occurs in the stack memory region and can be exploited to manipulate program execution flow.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple privilege escalation, as it provides attackers with complete system control capabilities. Local users who can execute programs with the Xsun server context can leverage this flaw to execute arbitrary code with root privileges, effectively compromising the entire system. This makes the vulnerability particularly dangerous in multi-user environments where users might have legitimate access to X11 sessions but should not possess root-level capabilities. The attack vector is relatively straightforward requiring only that an attacker can run programs that invoke Xsun with malicious command line arguments, which is often possible in desktop environments where users have graphical access to the system.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2002-0158 focus on both immediate patching and operational security measures. The primary solution involves applying the official Solaris patches released by Sun Microsystems that address the buffer overflow in the Xsun implementation. Organizations should also implement proper input validation controls at the application level to prevent similar issues in custom applications. Security monitoring should include detection of unusual command line argument patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of input validation and proper memory management practices in system-level software, aligning with ATT&CK technique T1068 which covers exploit for privilege escalation. Additionally, system administrators should consider implementing privilege separation and least privilege principles to limit the potential impact of such vulnerabilities even when they occur. The broader implications highlight the necessity of maintaining updated system software and conducting regular security assessments to identify and remediate similar buffer overflow vulnerabilities across all system components.