CVE-2002-1282 in KDE
Summary
by MITRE
Unknown vulnerability in the telnet KIO subsystem (telnet.protocol) of KDE 2.x 2.1 and later allows local and remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via a certain URL.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/27/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2002-1282 resides within the telnet KIO subsystem of KDE 2.x versions 2.1 and later, representing a critical security flaw that enables both local and remote attackers to execute arbitrary code. This issue specifically affects the telnet.protocol component within the KDE desktop environment's KIO (KDE I/O) framework, which handles network protocols and file operations. The vulnerability stems from improper handling of certain URL formats that are processed through the telnet protocol handler, creating a pathway for malicious code execution.
The technical flaw manifests when the KDE KIO subsystem processes specific malformed or specially crafted URLs through the telnet protocol handler. This allows attackers to inject and execute arbitrary commands on systems running affected KDE versions. The vulnerability operates at the protocol handler level within the KIO framework, where URL parsing and execution mechanisms fail to properly validate input parameters. The flaw essentially creates a code execution vector through the telnet protocol interface, enabling attackers to leverage the subsystem's capabilities to run unauthorized code. This represents a classic input validation vulnerability where insufficient sanitization of URL parameters leads to command injection or arbitrary code execution.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe as it affects both local and remote attack scenarios, making it particularly dangerous for desktop environments. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by crafting a malicious URL that, when processed through the telnet KIO subsystem, would execute arbitrary code on the target system. This could result in complete system compromise, privilege escalation, or unauthorized access to sensitive data. The vulnerability affects users who might encounter such URLs through web browsing, email attachments, or other means of URL delivery, making it a widespread concern for KDE desktop users. Additionally, since this vulnerability exists in the core I/O subsystem, it could potentially be leveraged for privilege escalation attacks or to bypass security controls within the KDE environment.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2002-1282 primarily involve upgrading to patched versions of KDE 2.x, specifically versions that address the telnet protocol handler vulnerabilities. System administrators should immediately apply security patches from KDE maintainers or their respective operating system vendors. Disabling the telnet protocol handler within KIO or restricting URL processing capabilities can serve as temporary workarounds until full patches are deployed. Network administrators should also consider implementing URL filtering mechanisms to prevent execution of potentially malicious URLs that might trigger this vulnerability. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-77 and CWE-94 categories, representing command injection and code execution flaws respectively, and maps to attack techniques in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under T1059 for command and script injection. Organizations should also implement proper input validation procedures and regularly audit their desktop environments for similar protocol handler vulnerabilities.