CVE-2002-1617 in Tru64
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple buffer overflows in HP Tru64 UNIX 5.x allow local users to execute arbitrary code via (1) a long -contextDir argument to dtaction, (2) a long -p argument to dtprintinfo, (3) a long -customization argument to dxterm, or (4) a long DISPLAY environment variable to dtterm.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/09/2018
The vulnerability described in CVE-2002-1617 represents a critical class of buffer overflow flaws affecting HP Tru64 UNIX 5.x operating systems. These vulnerabilities reside within several graphical user interface components that handle command-line arguments and environment variables, creating multiple attack vectors for local privilege escalation. The affected applications include dtaction, dtprintinfo, dxterm, and dtterm, all of which are part of the HP Desktop Manager suite and integral to the Tru64 UNIX desktop environment. The flaw stems from inadequate input validation and bounds checking in these applications, allowing attackers to overwrite adjacent memory locations through carefully crafted arguments or environment variables.
The technical implementation of these buffer overflows follows a classic pattern where fixed-size buffers are used to store user-supplied input without proper length verification. When the -contextDir argument exceeds the allocated buffer size in dtaction, or when the -p argument in dtprintinfo, -customization argument in dxterm, or DISPLAY environment variable in dtterm surpasses their respective buffer limits, stack-based buffer overflows occur. This vulnerability directly maps to CWE-121, which describes stack-based buffer overflow conditions, and CWE-122, which covers heap-based buffer overflow scenarios. The exploitation of these vulnerabilities typically involves crafting malicious input that overflows the buffer and overwrites return addresses or other critical memory locations, potentially allowing attackers to execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the affected process.
The operational impact of these vulnerabilities extends beyond simple local privilege escalation, as they provide attackers with a means to gain unauthorized access to systems running HP Tru64 UNIX 5.x. Since these applications are typically executed with elevated privileges in desktop environments, successful exploitation could result in complete system compromise. Attackers could leverage these vulnerabilities to install backdoors, modify system files, or escalate their privileges to root access. The local nature of these attacks means that any user with access to the system could potentially exploit these flaws, making them particularly dangerous in multi-user environments. Additionally, the presence of multiple attack vectors increases the probability of successful exploitation, as attackers can choose the most appropriate method based on their access level and system configuration.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2002-1617 should focus on immediate patching of the affected HP Tru64 UNIX systems, as HP released security updates specifically addressing these buffer overflow vulnerabilities. System administrators should implement input validation measures and parameter sanitization within applications to prevent malformed input from causing buffer overflows. The principle of least privilege should be enforced, limiting the execution of these vulnerable applications with elevated privileges where possible. Network segmentation and monitoring for unusual process execution patterns can help detect potential exploitation attempts. Organizations should also consider implementing address space layout randomization and stack canaries as additional defensive measures, though these are less effective against local privilege escalation attacks. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper input validation and buffer management in system security, aligning with ATT&CK technique T1068 which covers local privilege escalation through exploitation of system vulnerabilities.