CVE-2002-1492 in VPN 5000 Client
Summary
by MITRE
Buffer overflows in the Cisco VPN 5000 Client before 5.2.7 for Linux, and VPN 5000 Client before 5.2.8 for Solaris, allow local users to gain root privileges via (1) close_tunnel and (2) open_tunnel.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/27/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2002-1492 represents a critical buffer overflow flaw affecting Cisco VPN 5000 Client implementations across Linux and Solaris operating systems. This security weakness specifically targets versions prior to 5.2.7 for Linux and 5.2.8 for Solaris, creating a significant attack surface that adversaries could exploit to escalate privileges from local user level to root access. The flaw manifests within the client application's handling of network tunnel management functions, particularly in the close_tunnel and open_tunnel operations that are fundamental to VPN connectivity management.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and memory management within the Cisco VPN client software. When local users execute these specific tunnel management functions, the application fails to properly bounds-check user-supplied data before copying it into fixed-length buffers. This classic buffer overflow condition occurs because the software does not verify that incoming data fits within allocated memory boundaries, allowing attackers to overwrite adjacent memory locations including return addresses and control data. The vulnerability operates at the application level within the client daemon process, which typically runs with elevated privileges to manage network connections and system-level network interfaces.
The operational impact of CVE-2002-1492 extends beyond simple privilege escalation, as it provides attackers with complete system control through local access points. Once an attacker successfully exploits this vulnerability, they gain root privileges that enable them to modify system files, install malware, create new user accounts, and access all system resources without detection. The attack vector requires only local user access, making it particularly dangerous in multi-user environments where attackers might already have legitimate access to system resources. This vulnerability directly maps to CWE-121, which describes stack-based buffer overflow conditions, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1068, which covers local privilege escalation through system binary exploitation. The affected Cisco VPN 5000 Client implementations represent a significant security gap in enterprise network access control, as they provide a direct pathway for unauthorized root access through legitimate network management functions.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate patch deployment to upgrade affected Cisco VPN 5000 Client installations to versions 5.2.7 or later for Linux and 5.2.8 or later for Solaris. Organizations should implement comprehensive vulnerability management processes to identify and remediate all instances of affected software across their network infrastructure. System administrators should also consider implementing additional security controls such as mandatory access controls, privilege separation, and network segmentation to limit the potential impact of successful exploitation. Regular security assessments and penetration testing should be conducted to identify similar buffer overflow vulnerabilities in other network client applications and system components. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of secure coding practices and proper input validation in network security applications, as these flaws can provide attackers with complete system compromise through seemingly routine network operations.