CVE-2002-2259 in Gnuplot
Summary
by MITRE
Buffer overflow in the French documentation patch for Gnuplot 3.7 in SuSE Linux before 8.0 allows local users to execute arbitrary code as root via unknown attack vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/12/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2002-2259 represents a critical buffer overflow flaw discovered within the French documentation patch for Gnuplot version 3.7 distributed with SuSE Linux prior to version 8.0. This issue specifically targets the documentation component of the Gnuplot plotting software, which is commonly used for data visualization and scientific plotting tasks. The buffer overflow occurs during the processing of French language documentation files, creating a potential attack vector that could be exploited by local users to gain elevated privileges.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from improper input validation within the documentation patch processing mechanism. When the system processes French documentation files, insufficient bounds checking allows an attacker to overflow a fixed-size buffer, potentially overwriting adjacent memory locations including return addresses and control data. This memory corruption can be manipulated to redirect program execution flow, enabling arbitrary code execution with the privileges of the root user. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-121 as a stack-based buffer overflow, where the attack exploits the predictable memory layout of the program's stack to overwrite critical execution pointers.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe as it provides local users with the capability to escalate privileges to root level without requiring network access or external exploitation. Since the vulnerability exists within a documentation patch that would typically be installed as part of normal system maintenance, it could be triggered by any user with access to the system who encounters the French documentation processing. The attack vectors remain unspecified in the original report, suggesting that the vulnerability may be exploitable through various means including malformed documentation files or specific processing sequences. This makes the vulnerability particularly dangerous as it could be triggered by legitimate system operations or by an attacker who has already gained low-privilege access.
This vulnerability directly relates to the ATT&CK framework's privilege escalation tactics, specifically covering techniques such as "Exploitation for Privilege Escalation" and "Command and Scripting Interpreter" where local users can leverage system flaws to gain elevated permissions. The attack surface is expanded by the fact that this vulnerability affects a commonly used plotting tool that may be executed by various system processes or user applications. Organizations using affected SuSE Linux versions should prioritize immediate patching to address this vulnerability, as the potential for root compromise makes it a critical security concern. The remediation process requires updating to SuSE Linux 8.0 or later versions where the documentation patch processing has been corrected to properly validate input lengths and prevent buffer overflow conditions. Additionally, system administrators should review and restrict access to documentation processing components where possible, implementing principle of least privilege controls to minimize the impact of potential exploitation attempts.