CVE-2002-2265 in Open Source Internet Solutions
Summary
by MITRE
Unspecified vulnerability in LDAP Module in System Authentication of Open Source Internet Solutions (OSIS) 5.4 running on Tru64 UNIX 4.0G and 4.0F allows remote attackers to gain access to arbitrary files or gain privileges via unknown attack vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/20/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2002-2265 represents a critical security flaw within the Lightweight Directory Access Protocol module of the Open Source Internet Solutions 5.4 authentication framework operating on Tru64 UNIX 4.0G and 4.0F systems. This unspecified weakness in the system authentication mechanism creates a potential pathway for remote attackers to compromise system integrity and escalate privileges. The vulnerability specifically targets the LDAP authentication module, which serves as a fundamental component for user verification and access control within the OSIS framework. The lack of specific details regarding the exact attack vectors utilized by threat actors makes this vulnerability particularly concerning for security professionals tasked with protecting legacy systems.
The technical nature of this flaw suggests a failure in proper input validation or access control mechanisms within the LDAP authentication module. Attackers could potentially exploit this vulnerability to access arbitrary files on the system or elevate their privileges to gain unauthorized administrative access. The vulnerability exists in the authentication processing layer, which means that successful exploitation could allow attackers to bypass normal authentication procedures and gain unrestricted access to system resources. This type of vulnerability typically stems from improper handling of directory service requests or insufficient validation of authentication parameters passed through the LDAP interface. The unspecified nature of the attack vectors indicates that multiple exploitation techniques may be possible, making comprehensive remediation more challenging.
The operational impact of CVE-2002-2265 extends beyond simple unauthorized access, as it could enable attackers to establish persistent footholds within the network infrastructure. Systems running OSIS 5.4 on Tru64 UNIX platforms would be particularly vulnerable since these legacy systems often lack modern security controls and are frequently targeted by threat actors seeking to exploit known weaknesses. The vulnerability affects authentication mechanisms that are critical for maintaining system security boundaries, potentially allowing attackers to compromise entire network segments if the affected systems serve as authentication servers for multiple services. This type of privilege escalation vulnerability aligns with CWE-264, which addresses permissions, privileges, and access controls, and may map to ATT&CK techniques involving privilege escalation and credential access.
Organizations maintaining systems vulnerable to CVE-2002-2265 should implement immediate mitigations including network segmentation to isolate affected systems, disabling unnecessary LDAP services, and applying available patches or workarounds from the vendor. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of maintaining current security configurations and regularly updating legacy systems to address known weaknesses in authentication frameworks. Security monitoring should focus on detecting unusual authentication patterns or unauthorized access attempts that might indicate exploitation attempts. Given the age of the affected systems and the unspecified nature of the vulnerability, comprehensive security assessments should include both network-based and host-based scanning to identify potential attack vectors and ensure that all authentication mechanisms are properly secured against known exploitation techniques.