CVE-2002-1794 in HP-UX
Summary
by MITRE
Unknown vulnerability in pam_authz in the LDAP-UX Integration product on HP-UX 11.00 and 11.11 allows remote attackers to execute r-commands with privileges of other users.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/15/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2002-1794 represents a critical privilege escalation flaw within the LDAP-UX Integration product on HP-UX operating systems version 11.00 and 11.11. This issue resides within the pam_authz module, which serves as a crucial component for authentication and authorization services in the LDAP-UX integration framework. The vulnerability enables remote attackers to execute r-commands with elevated privileges, effectively allowing them to impersonate other users and gain unauthorized access to system resources. The flaw stems from inadequate privilege checking mechanisms within the authentication module, creating a pathway for malicious actors to bypass normal access controls and escalate their privileges within the system environment.
This vulnerability operates at the intersection of authentication and authorization functions, specifically targeting the pluggable authentication module architecture that governs user access controls on HP-UX systems. The technical implementation flaw allows remote attackers to manipulate the pam_authz module to execute remote commands with the privileges of other users, effectively creating a lateral movement vector within the network. The vulnerability's remote exploitability means that attackers do not require physical access to the system, making it particularly dangerous in networked environments where HP-UX systems are connected to broader network infrastructures. The flaw essentially undermines the fundamental security principle of least privilege by allowing unauthorized execution of commands with elevated user permissions.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends far beyond simple privilege escalation, as it enables attackers to potentially compromise entire system domains through lateral movement and privilege abuse. When exploited successfully, the vulnerability allows attackers to execute r-commands with the privileges of other users, which can lead to complete system compromise, data exfiltration, and persistent access within the network. The implications are particularly severe in enterprise environments where HP-UX systems may serve as critical infrastructure components, potentially affecting multiple user accounts and system resources across the organization. This vulnerability effectively provides attackers with a mechanism to escalate their initial access into a more significant security breach, potentially leading to unauthorized data access, system manipulation, and continued unauthorized access.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-269, which addresses privilege escalation issues in authentication and authorization systems, and represents a clear violation of the principle of least privilege in system security design. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to privilege escalation techniques and command execution capabilities, specifically targeting the T1059.003 sub-technique for command and scripting interpreter. Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including applying the relevant HP-UX security patches, disabling unnecessary remote access capabilities, and implementing network segmentation to limit the attack surface. Additionally, monitoring for unauthorized r-command execution and implementing strict access controls for LDAP-UX integration components can help detect and prevent exploitation attempts. The vulnerability underscores the importance of maintaining up-to-date security patches and proper access control configurations in enterprise environments where legacy systems may contain unpatched security flaws.