CVE-2002-0610 in MPE-iX
Summary
by MITRE
Vulnerability in FTPSRVR in HP MPE/iX 6.0 through 7.0 does not properly validate certain FTP commands, which allows attackers to gain privileges.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/22/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2002-0610 resides within the FTPSRVR component of Hewlett-Packard's MPE/iX operating system versions 6.0 through 7.0. This represents a critical security flaw that stems from inadequate input validation mechanisms within the FTP server implementation. The MPE/iX operating system, historically used on HP 3000 series computers, serves as a foundational platform for numerous enterprise applications and legacy systems. The vulnerability specifically targets the FTP server's command processing functionality, where certain FTP commands are not properly validated before execution. This flaw creates a pathway for unauthorized privilege escalation, allowing malicious actors to elevate their access rights within the system.
The technical nature of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-20, which describes improper input validation, and represents a classic case of command injection or privilege escalation through malformed input. Attackers can exploit this weakness by sending specially crafted FTP commands that bypass the validation checks implemented by the server. The lack of proper command sanitization means that malicious inputs can be interpreted and executed with elevated privileges, potentially allowing attackers to execute arbitrary code or gain administrative access to the system. The vulnerability exists at the protocol level where the FTP server processes user commands without sufficient verification of command parameters and syntax, creating a direct attack vector for privilege escalation.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability poses significant risks to organizations relying on MPE/iX systems, particularly those with internet-facing FTP services. The privilege escalation capability means that an attacker who gains initial access through FTP could potentially compromise the entire system, access sensitive data, modify system configurations, or establish persistent backdoors. The affected versions span multiple releases of MPE/iX, indicating this was a widespread issue that likely affected numerous enterprise installations. The exploitation of this vulnerability could lead to complete system compromise, data breaches, and disruption of critical business operations. Organizations with legacy MPE/iX systems may face challenges in remediation due to the age of these platforms and limited availability of modern security tools.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2002-0610 should prioritize immediate implementation of security patches provided by HP, though the age of the affected systems may limit available updates. Organizations should implement network segmentation to isolate FTP services from critical system components and restrict FTP access to trusted networks only. Additional protective measures include disabling unnecessary FTP services, implementing strict access controls, and monitoring FTP command logs for suspicious activity. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of input validation in system security, aligning with ATT&CK technique T1078 for valid accounts and T1548 for privilege escalation. System administrators should also consider migrating away from legacy systems where possible, as the extended support lifecycle for MPE/iX platforms makes continued reliance on unpatched vulnerabilities increasingly risky. Network monitoring solutions should be configured to detect anomalous FTP command sequences that might indicate exploitation attempts, particularly focusing on commands that could trigger privilege escalation behaviors.