CVE-2002-1604 in HP-UX
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple buffer overflows in HP Tru64 UNIX allow local and possibly remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via a long NLSPATH environment variable to (1) csh, (2) dtsession, (3) dxsysinfo, (4) imapd, (5) inc, (6) uucp, (7) uux, (8) rdist, or (9) deliver.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/18/2024
The vulnerability described in CVE-2002-1604 represents a critical buffer overflow issue affecting multiple system components within HP Tru64 UNIX operating system. This weakness stems from insufficient input validation in the handling of the NLSPATH environment variable, which is used to specify the location of locale-specific message files. The vulnerability affects a wide range of system utilities and services including csh shell, dtsession windowing system component, dxsysinfo system information tool, imapd mail server, inc mail utility, uucp communication program, uux remote execution utility, rdist distributed file transfer program, and deliver mail delivery system. These applications all share a common flaw in their processing of the NLSPATH environment variable without proper bounds checking, creating exploitable buffer overflow conditions that can be triggered through malicious input.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the improper handling of environment variable values during string operations within these system utilities. When any of the affected applications process a long NLSPATH environment variable, they fail to validate the length of the input before copying it into fixed-size buffers. This classic buffer overflow condition allows attackers to overwrite adjacent memory locations, potentially corrupting program execution flow and enabling arbitrary code execution. The flaw can be exploited locally through direct manipulation of environment variables or remotely if any of these services accept environment variables from untrusted sources, making the attack surface particularly broad given the number of vulnerable components. The vulnerability specifically aligns with CWE-121, which describes buffer overflow conditions where insufficient bounds checking allows memory corruption.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe and multifaceted across the HP Tru64 UNIX ecosystem. Local attackers can leverage this weakness to escalate privileges and execute malicious code with the privileges of the affected processes, potentially leading to complete system compromise. Remote exploitation becomes possible if any vulnerable service accepts environment variables from network sources, which is particularly concerning for network services like imapd and rdist that handle external inputs. The widespread nature of affected components means that a successful exploitation could impact multiple system functions simultaneously, potentially leading to denial of service conditions or complete system takeover. The vulnerability also presents challenges for system administrators in terms of patch management and security hardening, as it affects core system utilities that are fundamental to system operation and user interaction. This weakness directly maps to several ATT&CK techniques including privilege escalation through code injection and execution of malicious code in legitimate processes, making it a significant concern for enterprise security postures.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on immediate patch application from HP as the primary solution, along with comprehensive system hardening measures. System administrators should implement environment variable validation and sanitization policies to prevent overly long inputs from reaching vulnerable applications. The principle of least privilege should be enforced by running vulnerable services with minimal required permissions and by isolating them in restricted execution environments. Regular security audits should verify that no vulnerable versions remain in production environments, and network segmentation can help limit the potential impact of remote exploitation attempts. Additionally, monitoring systems should be configured to detect unusual environment variable patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts, while system logging should capture relevant execution events for forensic analysis. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of secure coding practices and input validation in system-level software development, emphasizing the need for comprehensive security testing throughout the software development lifecycle to prevent similar issues in future releases.