CVE-2002-2089 in Solaris
Summary
by MITRE
Buffer overflow in rcp in Solaris 9.0 allows local users to execute arbitrary code via a long command line argument.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/27/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2002-2089 represents a critical buffer overflow flaw within the remote copy utility rcp that is part of Solaris 9.0 operating systems. This issue stems from inadequate input validation mechanisms within the rcp command implementation, specifically when processing command line arguments that exceed predetermined buffer limits. The flaw exists in the way the utility handles user-supplied input during the execution of remote file copy operations, creating an exploitable condition that can be leveraged by local attackers to gain elevated privileges. The vulnerability manifests when an attacker provides a command line argument that surpasses the allocated buffer space, causing memory corruption that can be manipulated to execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the affected process.
The technical nature of this buffer overflow aligns with CWE-121, which categorizes buffer overflow conditions where insufficient bounds checking allows attackers to overwrite adjacent memory locations. The rcp utility in Solaris 9.0 fails to properly validate the length of command line arguments before processing them, creating a classic stack-based buffer overflow scenario. When the command line exceeds the predefined buffer capacity, the excess data overflows into adjacent memory regions, potentially corrupting the stack frame and allowing attackers to manipulate the instruction pointer to redirect program execution flow. This vulnerability specifically affects the local privilege escalation capabilities since the rcp utility typically runs with elevated privileges, making successful exploitation particularly dangerous.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents significant risks to Solaris 9.0 systems as it enables local users to achieve arbitrary code execution without requiring remote network access. The attack vector is particularly concerning because it only requires local system access, meaning that any user with login privileges can potentially exploit this flaw. The impact extends beyond simple privilege escalation to include potential system compromise, data exfiltration, and establishment of persistent backdoors. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to gain root access, modify system binaries, establish unauthorized network connections, or hide malicious activities within the compromised system. The exploitation process typically involves crafting a specially formatted command line argument that triggers the buffer overflow condition and subsequently executes shellcode within the target process context.
Security practitioners should implement immediate mitigations including applying the relevant Solaris patches provided by Oracle to address this vulnerability. System administrators must also consider implementing additional security controls such as restricting local user access where possible and monitoring for suspicious command line arguments that might indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of input validation and bounds checking in system utilities, particularly those that handle user input with elevated privileges. Organizations should conduct comprehensive vulnerability assessments to identify other potential buffer overflow conditions in similar system utilities and ensure proper memory management practices are implemented across all system components. This vulnerability serves as a reminder of the critical need for secure coding practices and regular security updates in enterprise environments. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this as a privilege escalation technique using local exploitation methods, highlighting the need for comprehensive endpoint security measures and regular system hardening procedures to prevent such vulnerabilities from being exploited in production environments.