CVE-2002-1814 in Mandrake Linux
Summary
by MITRE
Buffer overflow in efstools in Bonobo, when installed setuid, allows local users to execute arbitrary code via long command line arguments.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/24/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2002-1814 represents a critical buffer overflow flaw within the efstools utility component of the Bonobo software suite. This issue specifically manifests when efstools is installed with setuid privileges, creating a dangerous condition that enables local attackers to escalate their privileges and execute arbitrary code on the affected system. The vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and memory management within the command line argument processing functionality of this privileged utility.
The technical implementation of this buffer overflow occurs during the parsing of command line arguments passed to efstools when it operates with elevated privileges. When local users provide excessively long command line arguments, the program fails to properly bounds-check the input data before copying it into fixed-size buffers. This classic buffer overflow condition allows attackers to overwrite adjacent memory locations, potentially including return addresses and control data structures. The setuid nature of the utility means that any successful exploitation would grant the attacker the same privileges as the owner of the program, typically root access to the system.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple privilege escalation, as it creates a persistent security risk that can be exploited by any local user with access to the system. Attackers can leverage this flaw to execute malicious code with elevated privileges, potentially leading to complete system compromise. The vulnerability affects systems running Bonobo software where efstools is installed with setuid permissions, making it particularly concerning for enterprise environments where such utilities might be present. The exploitation requires only local access and does not necessitate network connectivity, making it especially dangerous in scenarios where local privilege escalation is already possible through other means.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2002-1814 should focus on immediate remediation through patching the affected Bonobo software suite or removing the setuid bit from efstools if the functionality is not essential. System administrators should conduct thorough inventory checks to identify all instances of efstools with setuid permissions and evaluate their necessity. The principle of least privilege should be strictly enforced by ensuring that setuid utilities are only deployed when absolutely required for system functionality. Additionally, implementing input validation measures and bounds checking in the affected codebase would prevent similar vulnerabilities from occurring in the future. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-121, which addresses stack-based buffer overflow conditions, and corresponds to techniques described in the ATT&CK framework under privilege escalation tactics, specifically focusing on local privilege escalation through setuid binary exploitation. Organizations should also consider implementing runtime protections such as stack canaries and address space layout randomization to provide additional defense-in-depth against similar buffer overflow exploitation techniques.