CVE-2002-0294 in OmniPCX
Summary
by MITRE
Alcatel 4400 installs the /chetc/shutdown command with setgid privileges, which allows many different local users to shut down the system.
If you want to get best quality of vulnerability data, you may have to visit VulDB.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/07/2018
The vulnerability described in CVE-2002-0294 represents a critical privilege escalation issue within the Alcatel 4400 telecommunications equipment system. This device, designed for network infrastructure management, contains a flaw in its permission model where the /chetc/shutdown command is installed with setgid privileges. The setgid bit allows any local user to execute this command with the privileges of the group that owns the file, effectively bypassing normal access controls that should restrict system shutdown operations to authorized administrative users only. This configuration creates a significant security weakness where unauthorized local users can potentially disrupt system operations by shutting down the device.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from improper privilege management within the system's file permissions. When a command is installed with setgid permissions, it inherits the group ownership of the file rather than the executing user's group. In this case, the shutdown command likely belongs to a privileged group such as root or system administrators, allowing any user who can execute the command to gain elevated privileges. This flaw directly violates the principle of least privilege and demonstrates poor security hardening practices in the system's design. The vulnerability operates at the operating system level, making it particularly dangerous as it can be exploited without requiring network access or specialized tools beyond local system execution capabilities.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple system disruption to encompass potential service availability issues and broader security implications. Local users who exploit this vulnerability can shut down the Alcatel 4400 system at will, potentially causing denial of service for network services that depend on this equipment. In telecommunications environments, such disruptions can lead to significant business impacts including loss of connectivity, data transmission failures, and service degradation. The vulnerability also represents a potential stepping stone for attackers who might use it as an initial foothold to escalate privileges further within the system. This type of local privilege escalation vulnerability is particularly concerning in enterprise environments where multiple users may have local access to critical infrastructure equipment.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on immediate permission correction and long-term security hardening measures. The primary fix involves removing the setgid bit from the /chetc/shutdown command through the chmod command, ensuring that only authorized users or processes can execute system shutdown operations. System administrators should also implement proper access controls and user management policies to limit local user privileges on critical infrastructure equipment. Regular security audits and privilege reviews should be conducted to identify similar misconfigurations. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-276, which addresses incorrect permission assignment, and represents a clear violation of the principle of least privilege. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to privilege escalation techniques and could enable further lateral movement within the network infrastructure. Organizations should also consider implementing monitoring solutions to detect unauthorized shutdown attempts and establish proper incident response procedures for such security events.