CVE-2002-0357 in IRIX
Summary
by MITRE
Unknown vulnerability in rpc.passwd in the nfs.sw.nis subsystem of SGI IRIX 6.5.15 and earlier allows local users to gain root privileges.
If you want to get best quality of vulnerability data, you may have to visit VulDB.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/18/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2002-0357 resides within the rpc.passwd component of the nfs.sw.nis subsystem in SGI IRIX operating systems version 6.5.15 and earlier. This critical flaw represents a local privilege escalation vulnerability that enables attackers with local access to escalate their privileges to the root level, effectively compromising the entire system. The rpc.passwd utility is responsible for managing password changes for users within the Network Information Service (NIS) environment, which is a distributed directory service commonly used in Unix-like systems for managing user accounts and authentication data across networked machines.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from improper privilege handling within the rpc.passwd utility's code execution flow. When the utility processes password change requests, it fails to properly validate or sanitize input parameters that are passed through the NIS subsystem. This insufficient validation creates a path where local users can manipulate the utility's behavior to execute arbitrary code with elevated privileges. The flaw specifically manifests when the rpc.passwd program attempts to update user password information in the NIS database without adequate access controls or privilege checks, allowing malicious input to bypass normal security boundaries that should prevent unauthorized privilege elevation.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability poses a severe threat to system security as it requires only local access to exploit, making it particularly dangerous in environments where local user accounts may be compromised or where users have legitimate access to system resources. The privilege escalation capability means that an attacker who gains access to any local account can potentially assume complete administrative control over the system, including the ability to modify system files, install malicious software, create additional user accounts, and access sensitive data. The vulnerability affects the broader IRIX ecosystem and represents a significant weakness in the system's access control mechanisms, particularly within the NIS infrastructure that many legacy systems depend upon for centralized user management.
Security mitigations for this vulnerability primarily involve applying the vendor-provided patches and updates that address the privilege validation issues within the rpc.passwd utility. System administrators should immediately upgrade to IRIX versions that contain the patched rpc.passwd implementation, as the original vulnerable code does not provide adequate access controls to prevent unauthorized privilege escalation. Organizations should also implement additional monitoring and access control measures, including regular auditing of local user accounts and system logs to detect potential exploitation attempts. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-276, which describes improper privilege management in software, and represents a classic example of how insufficient input validation can lead to privilege escalation attacks. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to privilege escalation techniques where adversaries leverage local access to exploit software flaws, specifically targeting the T1068 privilege escalation technique. System hardening practices should include restricting local user access where possible and implementing comprehensive security monitoring to detect anomalous behavior that might indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability underscores the critical importance of maintaining up-to-date system patches and the necessity of conducting regular security assessments of system components, particularly those handling authentication and access control functions.