CVE-2002-1250 in Abuse
Summary
by MITRE
Buffer overflow in Abuse 2.00 and earlier allows local users to gain root privileges via a long -net command line argument.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/10/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2002-1250 represents a critical buffer overflow flaw affecting Abuse 2.00 and earlier versions of the software. This security weakness resides within the command line argument processing mechanism, specifically when handling the -net parameter. The flaw occurs when the application fails to properly validate the length of input provided through the command line, creating an exploitable condition that can be leveraged by local attackers to escalate privileges. The buffer overflow vulnerability stems from insufficient bounds checking in the argument parsing routine, allowing an attacker to overwrite adjacent memory locations with malicious data.
This particular vulnerability operates under the Common Weakness Enumeration framework as CWE-121, classified as Stack-based Buffer Overflow, where the overflow occurs in a stack-allocated buffer during the processing of command line arguments. The attack vector is local privilege escalation, meaning that an attacker must already have access to the system to exploit this vulnerability. However, the impact is severe as successful exploitation results in privilege escalation from the current user to root level access, providing complete system control. The exploitation process involves crafting a specially formatted -net command line argument that exceeds the allocated buffer size, causing a stack overflow that can be manipulated to redirect program execution flow.
The operational impact of CVE-2002-1250 extends beyond simple privilege escalation, as it provides attackers with complete system compromise capabilities. Once root privileges are obtained, adversaries can modify system files, install backdoors, create new user accounts, and access all system resources without restriction. The vulnerability affects systems running Abuse versions 2.00 and earlier, making it particularly concerning for legacy deployments that may not have received security updates. The local nature of the attack means that network-based exploitation is not possible, but the ease of privilege escalation makes it attractive to attackers who have already gained access to the system through other means. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1068, which covers 'Exploitation for Privilege Escalation', and T1059, covering 'Command and Scripting Interpreter', as the exploitation requires the use of command line arguments to trigger the buffer overflow.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2002-1250 should prioritize immediate remediation through software version updates to Abuse 2.01 or later versions where the buffer overflow has been addressed. System administrators should implement strict input validation controls and consider employing stack protection mechanisms such as stack canaries to detect and prevent buffer overflow exploitation attempts. Additionally, privilege separation techniques should be implemented to reduce the impact of potential exploitation, ensuring that applications do not run with elevated privileges when possible. Regular security audits and input validation testing should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other applications. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of proper software security practices during development, emphasizing the need for robust bounds checking and input validation in all command line argument processing functions to prevent similar issues from occurring in future software releases.