CVE-2003-0174 in IRIX
Summary
by MITRE
The LDAP name service (nsd) in IRIX 6.5.19 and earlier does not properly verify if the USERPASSWORD attribute has been provided by an LDAP server, which could allow attackers to log in without a password.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/13/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2003-0174 represents a critical authentication flaw within the Lightweight Directory Access Protocol name service implementation in SGI IRIX operating systems version 6.5.19 and earlier. This issue resides in the nsd component responsible for handling LDAP directory services, specifically in how it processes user authentication credentials. The flaw stems from inadequate validation mechanisms that fail to properly verify the authenticity and presence of the USERPASSWORD attribute when establishing user sessions. According to the CWE taxonomy, this vulnerability maps to CWE-287 which addresses improper authentication scenarios, while the ATT&CK framework would categorize this under T1110.401 for credential access through exploitation of weak or improperly implemented authentication mechanisms.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when an attacker can manipulate LDAP responses to bypass password validation entirely. The nsd service in IRIX expects the USERPASSWORD attribute to contain valid authentication data, but due to insufficient validation checks, the system accepts login requests even when this attribute is missing or contains invalid data. This creates a scenario where authentication can be bypassed through crafted LDAP responses that either omit the password attribute or provide malformed credentials. The flaw essentially allows for passwordless authentication by exploiting the trust relationship between the nsd service and the LDAP server, enabling unauthorized access to systems that rely on LDAP for user management and authentication.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple unauthorized access, as it fundamentally undermines the security posture of systems relying on IRIX 6.5.19 or earlier versions. Attackers can leverage this weakness to gain administrative privileges without knowledge of legitimate user passwords, potentially leading to complete system compromise. The vulnerability affects environments where LDAP-based authentication is configured, particularly in enterprise networks where IRIX systems may serve as directory services or authentication servers. Organizations with multiple systems using this vulnerable nsd implementation face increased risk of privilege escalation attacks, data breaches, and unauthorized system modifications. The impact is compounded by the fact that this vulnerability can be exploited remotely through LDAP connections, making it particularly dangerous in networked environments.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2003-0174 should prioritize immediate system updates and patches from SGI to address the underlying nsd implementation flaw. Organizations must ensure that all IRIX systems are upgraded to versions that include proper validation of the USERPASSWORD attribute within LDAP responses. Network segmentation and access controls should be implemented to limit LDAP service exposure and restrict unauthorized access to LDAP servers. Additional security measures include implementing LDAP signing and encryption to prevent man-in-the-middle attacks that could exploit this vulnerability. Security monitoring should be enhanced to detect unusual authentication patterns or unauthorized access attempts that might indicate exploitation of this flaw. The remediation process should also involve comprehensive security assessments of all LDAP-based authentication systems to identify and address similar implementation weaknesses that might exist in other components of the directory service infrastructure.