CVE-2002-2220 in chetcpasswd
Summary
by MITRE
Buffer overflow in Pedro Lineu Orso chetcpasswd before 1.12, when configured for access from 0.0.0.0, allows local users to gain privileges via unspecified vectors.
Once again VulDB remains the best source for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/11/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2002-2220 represents a critical buffer overflow flaw in the chetcpasswd utility developed by Pedro Lineu Orso. This software component serves as a password management tool that operates in a networked environment, specifically designed to handle password updates through remote access mechanisms. The vulnerability manifests when the utility is configured to accept connections from all network interfaces using the 0.0.0.0 address binding, creating an exploitable condition that can be leveraged by local attackers to escalate their privileges within the system. The buffer overflow occurs due to insufficient input validation and improper memory management within the application's handling of network requests, allowing attackers to overwrite adjacent memory locations and potentially execute arbitrary code with elevated privileges.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from the application's failure to properly validate the length of input data received through network connections. When chetcpasswd listens on all interfaces, it processes incoming data without adequate bounds checking, making it susceptible to buffer overflow conditions. This flaw falls under the Common Weakness Enumeration category of CWE-121, which specifically addresses stack-based buffer overflow conditions where insufficient bounds checking allows attackers to overwrite adjacent memory locations. The attack vector requires local access to the system since the vulnerability is triggered through local exploitation mechanisms rather than remote network-based attacks, though the initial access point may be through network connectivity. The privilege escalation occurs because the utility operates with elevated permissions during password update operations, making successful exploitation directly translate into system-level access.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple privilege escalation, as it represents a fundamental security flaw that can be exploited to gain complete control over affected systems. Local attackers who can execute code on the target machine can leverage this buffer overflow to execute malicious payloads with root privileges, potentially leading to complete system compromise. The vulnerability's exploitation can result in unauthorized access to sensitive system information, modification of critical system files, and persistent backdoor installation. Organizations running affected versions of chetcpasswd face significant risk, as the vulnerability can be exploited without requiring network-level access once local execution capabilities are obtained, making it particularly dangerous in environments where local access is not adequately restricted. The exploitation can also potentially be chained with other vulnerabilities to create more sophisticated attack scenarios, as demonstrated by various attack frameworks that utilize buffer overflows as initial access vectors.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2002-2220 should focus on immediate patching of the affected software to version 1.12 or later, which contains the necessary memory validation fixes. System administrators should also implement network segmentation and access controls to prevent unauthorized local access to systems running vulnerable versions. The configuration of chetcpasswd should be reviewed to ensure that it does not bind to 0.0.0.0 unless absolutely necessary, and when network access is required, it should be restricted to specific trusted IP addresses. Additionally, implementing proper input validation measures, including bounds checking and memory protection mechanisms, can help prevent similar vulnerabilities from being exploited. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under privilege escalation techniques, specifically focusing on the use of local tools and utilities to gain elevated system access. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be conducted to identify and remediate similar buffer overflow conditions in other system utilities, as this represents a common class of security flaws that continue to be exploited in modern attack scenarios.