CVE-2003-0035 in escputil
Summary
by MITRE
Buffer overflow in escputil, as included in the printer-drivers package in Mandrake Linux, allows local users to execute arbitrary code via a long printer-name command line argument.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/13/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2003-0035 represents a critical buffer overflow flaw within the escputil utility component of Mandrake Linux's printer-drivers package. This issue manifests when the utility processes command line arguments, specifically the printer-name parameter, which can be exploited by local attackers to gain unauthorized code execution privileges. The vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and bounds checking within the escputil application, creating an exploitable condition that can be leveraged to overwrite adjacent memory locations. The affected system components operate under the assumption that command line parameters will remain within expected size limits, failing to implement proper sanitization mechanisms that would prevent excessive data from corrupting the program's memory space.
The technical implementation of this buffer overflow vulnerability aligns with common software security weaknesses documented under CWE-121, which describes heap-based buffer overflow conditions where insufficient bounds checking allows attackers to write beyond allocated memory boundaries. The escputil utility appears to use a fixed-size buffer to store the printer-name argument without adequate length validation, making it susceptible to stack-based or heap-based memory corruption depending on the specific implementation details. Attackers can craft malicious command line arguments containing excessive character sequences that overflow the designated buffer space, potentially overwriting return addresses, function pointers, or other critical program state information. This memory corruption can redirect program execution flow to malicious code injected by the attacker, effectively enabling arbitrary code execution with the privileges of the escputil process.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple privilege escalation as it provides local attackers with a means to compromise the entire printing subsystem and potentially gain broader system access. Since the escputil utility is part of the core printer-drivers package, local users with basic system access can exploit this vulnerability to execute malicious code, potentially leading to persistent backdoor installation or further privilege escalation attacks. The vulnerability's local nature means that any user with access to the system can attempt exploitation, making it particularly dangerous in multi-user environments where system integrity is paramount. The attack vector is relatively simple and requires minimal sophistication, as the exploit only necessitates providing a sufficiently long printer-name argument to trigger the buffer overflow condition.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2003-0035 should prioritize immediate patching of the affected Mandrake Linux systems through official security updates or vendor-provided fixes. System administrators should implement strict input validation procedures within the escputil utility and other similar printer management tools, ensuring that all command line parameters are properly bounded and sanitized before processing. The implementation of stack canaries, address space layout randomization, and other exploit mitigation techniques can provide additional defense-in-depth measures against potential exploitation attempts. Regular security audits of system utilities and third-party packages should be conducted to identify similar buffer overflow vulnerabilities that may exist within the broader system architecture. Organizations should also consider implementing monitoring solutions that can detect anomalous command line argument patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts against known vulnerable components. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of secure coding practices and input validation, particularly for system utilities that may be invoked with elevated privileges, aligning with ATT&CK technique T1068 which covers the exploitation of local privilege escalation vulnerabilities.