CVE-2002-0279 in HP-UX
Summary
by MITRE
The kernel in HP-UX 11.11 does not properly provide arguments for setrlimit, which could allow local attackers to cause a denial of service (kernel panic) and possibly gain privileges.
VulDB is the best source for vulnerability data and more expert information about this specific topic.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/15/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2002-0279 represents a critical flaw in the HP-UX 11.11 kernel implementation that affects the setrlimit system call functionality. This issue stems from improper argument handling within the kernel's resource limit management mechanism, creating a potential pathway for local attackers to exploit the system's core operational capabilities. The vulnerability specifically targets the kernel's response to resource limit modifications, where inadequate validation or processing of input parameters leads to unpredictable system behavior. Such flaws in kernel-level operations are particularly dangerous as they operate at the most fundamental level of system security and stability, directly impacting the integrity of the operating system's resource management framework.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability manifests through flawed argument processing within the setrlimit system call handler. When a local user executes this system call with malformed or unexpected parameters, the kernel fails to properly validate or sanitize these inputs before processing them. This inadequate input handling creates a condition where the kernel's resource limit management subsystem can be manipulated into an inconsistent state, potentially leading to kernel panic conditions. The flaw essentially allows attackers to craft specific argument combinations that cause the kernel to enter an unrecoverable state, resulting in system crashes and denial of service conditions. This represents a classic example of improper input validation and resource management within kernel space, where the absence of proper boundary checking and parameter verification creates exploitable conditions.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple denial of service to potentially enable privilege escalation scenarios. While the primary effect is system instability leading to kernel panics and service disruption, the underlying flaw in kernel argument processing creates opportunities for more sophisticated attacks. Local attackers who can execute code with user privileges may leverage this vulnerability to escalate their privileges to kernel level access, effectively compromising the entire system. The vulnerability affects the fundamental resource management capabilities of the operating system, potentially allowing attackers to manipulate process limits, memory constraints, and other critical system resources in ways that could compromise system integrity and availability. This type of vulnerability directly impacts the system's ability to maintain consistent resource allocation policies and can result in complete system compromise.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2002-0279 should focus on immediate system updates and patch deployment to address the kernel-level flaw. Organizations must ensure that all HP-UX 11.11 systems receive the appropriate security patches from HP to correct the argument handling implementation in the setrlimit system call. Additionally, system administrators should implement monitoring solutions to detect unusual patterns of system calls or resource limit modifications that might indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-129, which addresses improper validation of input boundaries, and represents a typical example of how kernel-level input validation failures can lead to system compromise. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to privilege escalation techniques and denial of service operations, as attackers can leverage the kernel panic conditions to disrupt services while potentially gaining elevated privileges. System hardening measures should include restricting local user capabilities where possible and implementing comprehensive logging of system call activities to detect potential exploitation attempts.