CVE-2002-0744 in AIX
Summary
by MITRE
namerslv in AIX 4.3.3 core dumps when called with a very long argument, possibly as a result of a buffer overflow.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/14/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2002-0744 affects the namerslv utility within AIX 4.3.3 operating systems, representing a classic buffer overflow condition that can lead to system instability and potential exploitation. This flaw specifically manifests when the namerslv program is invoked with an excessively long argument string, causing the application to crash with a core dump and potentially allowing for more severe security implications. The issue stems from inadequate input validation and bounds checking within the program's argument processing mechanism, which fails to properly handle argument lengths beyond predefined limits.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the namerslv utility's failure to validate the length of command-line arguments before processing them, resulting in memory corruption when the argument exceeds the allocated buffer space. This type of flaw falls under CWE-121, which categorizes buffer overflow conditions where insufficient bounds checking allows attackers to overwrite adjacent memory locations. The vulnerability represents a direct violation of secure coding practices and demonstrates the importance of input validation in preventing memory corruption attacks that could potentially be leveraged for privilege escalation or denial of service conditions.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability poses significant risks to AIX 4.3.3 systems where the namerslv utility is utilized, particularly in environments where untrusted input might be processed through this component. The potential for a remote attacker to trigger this condition through crafted command-line arguments could result in system crashes, making the affected systems unavailable to legitimate users. The impact extends beyond simple service disruption as buffer overflows of this nature often create opportunities for more sophisticated attacks, including code execution or privilege escalation, depending on the system configuration and the attacker's access level.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2002-0744 should prioritize immediate patching through IBM's official security updates for AIX 4.3.3 systems, as this vulnerability was addressed in subsequent system releases. Organizations should implement input validation measures to prevent excessively long arguments from reaching the namerslv utility, including parameter sanitization and length checking at system boundaries. Additionally, system administrators should consider implementing process isolation and monitoring for unusual core dump patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1499.004, which covers network denial of service, and represents a foundational security weakness that demonstrates the critical importance of proper buffer management and input validation in system utilities. Organizations should also conduct comprehensive vulnerability assessments to identify similar buffer overflow conditions in other system components and ensure that all applications follow secure coding standards to prevent similar issues from emerging in the future.