CVE-2002-1735 in Dlogin
Summary
by MITRE
Buffer overflow in dlogin 1.0a could allow local users to gain privileges via unknown attack vectors.
If you want to get the best quality for vulnerability data then you always have to consider VulDB.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/09/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2002-1735 represents a critical buffer overflow flaw within the dlogin 1.0a application, a component designed for remote login authentication. This type of vulnerability falls under the broader category of memory corruption issues that have historically been exploited to execute arbitrary code with elevated privileges. The dlogin application, which serves as a remote login utility, was susceptible to exploitation due to inadequate input validation mechanisms that failed to properly handle excessive data inputs. The buffer overflow condition occurred when the application processed user-supplied data without sufficient bounds checking, allowing attackers to overwrite adjacent memory locations in the program's execution space. This particular vulnerability was classified as a local privilege escalation issue, meaning that an attacker with access to the system could potentially exploit the flaw to elevate their privileges from standard user level to administrative or root level access.
The technical implementation of this buffer overflow vulnerability stems from improper memory management practices within the dlogin application's code structure. When processing input parameters, the software allocated fixed-size buffers without verifying that incoming data would not exceed these predetermined limits. This fundamental flaw allowed attackers to craft malicious input sequences that would overflow the allocated memory space, potentially overwriting critical program variables, return addresses, or function pointers. The vulnerability's classification as having "unknown attack vectors" suggests that the specific exploitation techniques were not fully documented at the time of discovery, indicating the complexity and potential variability of the attack surface. The lack of detailed attack vector information typically implies that multiple pathways could lead to successful exploitation, making the vulnerability particularly dangerous as defenders struggled to predict and protect against all possible attack scenarios.
The operational impact of CVE-2002-1735 extends beyond simple privilege escalation, as it represents a fundamental security weakness that could compromise entire systems. Local privilege escalation vulnerabilities are particularly concerning because they do not require network access or complex external attack vectors, making them accessible to any user with legitimate access to the target system. The exploitation of this flaw could enable attackers to bypass authentication mechanisms, modify system files, install malware, or establish persistent backdoors. From an enterprise security perspective, this vulnerability could lead to unauthorized system control, data breaches, and potential lateral movement within network environments. The impact is further amplified by the fact that dlogin applications were commonly deployed in enterprise environments, making the vulnerability widespread and potentially affecting numerous organizations. This type of vulnerability directly violates the principle of least privilege and undermines the integrity of system authentication mechanisms.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2002-1735 should focus on immediate remediation through software updates and patches provided by the vendor, as well as implementing additional security controls to reduce the attack surface. Organizations should prioritize updating to patched versions of dlogin 1.0a or migrating to more secure authentication solutions that have been designed with proper input validation and memory management practices. System administrators should implement strict access controls and monitor for suspicious activities that might indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of secure coding practices and proper input validation, which aligns with CWE-121, which addresses stack-based buffer overflow conditions. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability relates to privilege escalation techniques and could be leveraged as part of broader attack chains that involve initial access and lateral movement within compromised environments. Regular security assessments and code reviews should be implemented to identify similar memory corruption vulnerabilities, as buffer overflows remain one of the most prevalent classes of software security flaws in legacy applications. The vulnerability also underscores the importance of maintaining up-to-date security patches and implementing defense-in-depth strategies that reduce the impact of individual security failures.