CVE-2002-0293 in OmniPCX
Summary
by MITRE
FTP service in Alcatel OmniPCX 4400 allows the "halt" user to gain root privileges by modifying root s .profile file.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/07/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2002-0293 represents a critical privilege escalation flaw within the FTP service of Alcatel OmniPCX 4400 telephony systems. This issue affects the security model of the device by allowing a specific user account with limited permissions to escalate their privileges to the root level, thereby gaining complete control over the system. The vulnerability stems from inadequate access controls and improper privilege management within the FTP service implementation.
The technical flaw manifests through the manipulation of system files that control user environment settings. Specifically, the "halt" user account can modify the root .profile file, which contains critical system initialization commands and environment variables. This modification allows the attacker to inject malicious code or alter system configurations that would normally require root-level permissions. The vulnerability exists because the system does not properly validate file modification requests from non-root users, particularly when dealing with system-critical files that should be protected from unauthorized access.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe and far-reaching for organizations utilizing Alcatel OmniPCX 4400 systems. Once exploited, the attacker gains complete administrative control over the telephony infrastructure, potentially allowing for eavesdropping on communications, modification of call routing, disruption of services, or even complete system compromise. The implications extend beyond simple privilege escalation as the compromised system could serve as a foothold for further attacks within the organization's network infrastructure. This vulnerability directly impacts the availability, integrity, and confidentiality of the telephony services, making it a critical concern for network security.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should include immediate implementation of access control measures that prevent non-root users from modifying system-critical files, particularly those related to user profiles and system initialization. Organizations should implement network segmentation to isolate telephony systems from general network access, and establish robust monitoring for unauthorized file modification attempts. The system should be updated with patches provided by Alcatel or third-party security vendors to address the privilege escalation flaw. Additionally, security configurations should be reviewed to ensure that the principle of least privilege is enforced, and that all user accounts have appropriate access rights based on their legitimate operational requirements. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-269, which addresses insufficient privileges in system components, and represents a clear violation of the principle of least privilege that is fundamental to secure system design. The attack vector demonstrates techniques consistent with privilege escalation methods documented in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under the privilege escalation category, specifically targeting the exploitation of weak access controls in system services.