CVE-2003-0177 in IRIX
Summary
by MITRE
SGI IRIX 6.5.x through 6.5.20f, and possibly earlier versions, does not follow "-" entries in the /etc/group file, which may cause subsequent group membership entries to be processed inadvertently.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/11/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2003-0177 represents a critical flaw in the SGI IRIX operating system's group membership processing mechanism. This issue affects versions 6.5.x through 6.5.20f and potentially earlier releases, creating a significant security risk within Unix-like systems that rely on proper group access controls. The flaw manifests when the system encounters "-" entries in the /etc/group file, which are typically used to indicate that certain group entries should be ignored or skipped during processing.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from how the IRIX operating system handles group file parsing. When the system processes the /etc/group file, it should properly recognize and skip entries marked with "-" to prevent unintended group membership assignments. However, the flawed implementation fails to properly interpret these marker entries, causing the system to continue processing subsequent group entries as if they were valid. This behavior can lead to unauthorized users gaining access to group resources or privileges that should be restricted.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple access control violations. Attackers could potentially exploit this weakness to escalate privileges by manipulating group membership assignments, creating backdoor access paths, or bypassing security controls that depend on proper group hierarchies. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-254, which addresses security weaknesses related to improper handling of access control mechanisms, and represents a classic example of how file parsing errors can create security implications in system-level operations.
This vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper input validation and file parsing in security-critical system components. The issue relates to ATT&CK technique T1068, which involves exploiting privileges and permissions, as the flaw allows for unintended privilege escalation through group membership manipulation. The improper handling of "-" entries in group files represents a failure in proper access control enforcement, where the system should have ignored certain entries but instead processed them, leading to potential security breaches.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability include immediate patching of affected IRIX systems to the latest available versions that address the group file parsing issue. System administrators should also implement monitoring of /etc/group file modifications and conduct regular audits to ensure proper group membership assignments. Additionally, the vulnerability highlights the need for proper security testing of system-level components, particularly those involved in access control and privilege management. Organizations should consider implementing additional access control measures beyond the default group-based permissions to provide defense in depth against such flaws. The remediation process should include comprehensive testing to ensure that the patched system properly handles all entries in the /etc/group file according to established security protocols and standards.