CVE-2003-0092 in Solaris
Summary
by MITRE
Heap-based buffer overflow in dtsession for Solaris 2.5.1 through Solaris 9 allows local users to gain root privileges via a long HOME environment variable.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/11/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2003-0092 represents a critical heap-based buffer overflow affecting the dtsession component in Solaris operating systems from version 2.5.1 through 9. This flaw exists within the desktop session management functionality that handles user environment variables during login processes. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-121 as a heap-based buffer overflow, which occurs when more data is written to a heap-allocated buffer than it can accommodate, potentially allowing attackers to overwrite adjacent memory locations. The dtsession utility, which manages the graphical desktop environment initialization for users, fails to properly validate the length of the HOME environment variable, creating an exploitable condition that can be leveraged for privilege escalation.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability requires local system access and involves crafting a specially constructed HOME environment variable that exceeds the allocated buffer size within the dtsession process. When the system processes this oversized environment variable, the buffer overflow corrupts adjacent memory regions, potentially allowing an attacker to overwrite critical program execution data such as return addresses or function pointers. This memory corruption can be manipulated to redirect program execution flow and ultimately achieve root privileges. The vulnerability operates at the system level where the dtsession utility executes with elevated privileges during the desktop session initialization, making it particularly dangerous as it bridges the gap between local user access and system-level privilege escalation.
The operational impact of CVE-2003-0092 is severe as it enables local attackers to escalate their privileges from regular user level to root access without requiring additional authentication mechanisms. This privilege escalation capability allows malicious users to gain complete control over affected Solaris systems, potentially leading to data theft, system compromise, or further network infiltration. The vulnerability affects multiple versions of Solaris, making it widespread across various enterprise and server environments that were utilizing these older operating system versions. Organizations running affected Solaris systems face significant security risks as this vulnerability can be exploited by both malicious insiders and external attackers who have gained local access through other means.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability include applying the official Oracle Solaris patches released in response to this CVE, which typically involve modifying the dtsession utility to properly validate environment variable lengths and implement proper buffer size checks. System administrators should also implement additional security controls such as restricting local user access to systems where possible, monitoring for unusual environment variable usage patterns, and ensuring that systems are regularly updated with the latest security patches. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper input validation in system-level utilities and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1068 which covers privilege escalation through local exploits. Organizations should also consider implementing privilege separation mechanisms and regularly auditing system configurations to prevent exploitation of similar buffer overflow vulnerabilities in other system components.