CVE-2002-1253 in Abuse
Summary
by MITRE
Abuse 2.00 and earlier allows local users to gain privileges via command line arguments that specify alternate Lisp scripts that run at escalated privileges, which can contain functions that execute commands or modify files.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/30/2024
The vulnerability described in CVE-2002-1253 affects Abuse 2.00 and earlier versions, representing a critical privilege escalation flaw that enables local attackers to execute malicious code with elevated system privileges. This vulnerability stems from the software's improper handling of command line arguments that reference alternate Lisp scripts during execution. The flaw exists in the application's script loading mechanism where user-supplied arguments can be used to specify alternative script files that execute with the privileges of the running process rather than the user's current permissions.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the manipulation of command line parameters to load unauthorized Lisp scripts that contain malicious functions capable of executing arbitrary commands and modifying system files. When Abuse processes command line arguments that reference external Lisp scripts, it fails to properly validate or sanitize these inputs, allowing attackers to specify paths to malicious scripts that will execute with elevated privileges. This represents a classic privilege escalation vector where the application's trust model is violated through improper input validation and script execution handling.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple command execution to encompass full system compromise capabilities. Local users can leverage this flaw to modify critical system files, execute arbitrary code with administrative privileges, and potentially establish persistent access to the affected system. The vulnerability's exploitation does not require network connectivity or external attack vectors, making it particularly dangerous as it can be exploited through local system access alone. This characteristic aligns with attack patterns documented in the attack tree framework where local privilege escalation represents a fundamental compromise of system integrity.
From a cybersecurity perspective, this vulnerability maps directly to CWE-78 and CWE-20, representing command injection and input validation flaws respectively. The vulnerability demonstrates poor input sanitization practices where command line arguments are directly processed without proper validation of script paths or content. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this as privilege escalation through abuse of system processes, specifically targeting the execution of malicious code with elevated privileges. Organizations implementing security controls should consider this vulnerability as part of their baseline assessment for legacy software systems running vulnerable versions of Abuse.
The mitigation strategies for CVE-2002-1253 primarily involve immediate software updates to versions that address the command line argument handling flaw. System administrators should implement strict input validation for all command line parameters and consider restricting the execution environment to prevent arbitrary script loading. Additionally, privilege separation mechanisms should be implemented to ensure that applications run with minimal required privileges, reducing the potential impact of such vulnerabilities. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of regular security assessments and patch management processes to identify and remediate similar issues in legacy software systems.