CVE-2002-1389 in typespeed
Summary
by MITRE
Buffer overflow in typespeed 0.4.2 and earlier allows local users to gain privileges via long input.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/23/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2002-1389 represents a critical buffer overflow flaw within the typespeed utility version 0.4.2 and earlier. This software tool, designed for typing speed training, contains a programming error that manifests when processing user input. The flaw occurs in the handling of command-line arguments or input data, where insufficient bounds checking allows an attacker to provide excessive input that overflows the allocated buffer space. This condition creates a situation where adjacent memory locations can be overwritten, potentially leading to arbitrary code execution.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from improper input validation within the typespeed application's argument parsing mechanism. When users provide overly long input strings, the program fails to verify that the input length remains within predetermined buffer boundaries. This classic buffer overflow condition enables attackers to manipulate the program's execution flow by overwriting critical memory segments including return addresses, stack pointers, or other control data. The vulnerability specifically affects local users who can exploit this flaw to escalate their privileges on the system, as the typespeed utility likely runs with elevated permissions during certain operations.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents a significant risk to system security as it allows local attackers to gain elevated privileges without requiring remote access or complex exploitation techniques. The attack vector is relatively straightforward since it only requires local system access and the ability to execute the vulnerable typespeed utility. The privilege escalation occurs because the buffer overflow can be leveraged to execute malicious code with the same privileges as the running process, which may include administrative or root-level access depending on how the utility is configured. This makes the vulnerability particularly dangerous in multi-user environments where local access is common.
The mitigation strategies for CVE-2002-1389 involve several approaches that align with established cybersecurity practices and standards. Software vendors should immediately implement proper bounds checking and input validation mechanisms to prevent buffer overflows. The most effective solution is to upgrade to a patched version of typespeed that addresses the specific buffer overflow condition. Additionally, system administrators should consider implementing privilege separation techniques and ensuring that the utility runs with minimal required permissions. This vulnerability demonstrates the importance of following secure coding practices and adheres to CWE-121, which categorizes buffer overflow conditions as a fundamental security weakness. The ATT&CK framework would classify this as a privilege escalation technique using buffer overflow exploitation, falling under the T1068 category of Exploitation for Privilege Escalation. Organizations should also implement runtime protections such as stack canaries, address space layout randomization, and non-executable stack protections to defend against similar vulnerabilities in other applications.