CVE-2003-0333 in HP-UX
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple buffer overflows in kermit in HP-UX 10.20 and 11.00 (C-Kermit 6.0.192 and possibly other versions before 8.0) allow local users to gain privileges via long arguments to (1) ask, (2) askq, (3) define, (4) assign, and (5) getc, some of which may share the same underlying function "doask," a different vulnerability than CVE-2001-0085.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/18/2024
The vulnerability described in CVE-2003-0333 represents a critical buffer overflow condition affecting the C-Kermit implementation on HP-UX operating systems version 10.20 and 11.00. This flaw specifically impacts the kermit terminal emulation program where multiple commands exhibit vulnerable behavior when processing user input arguments. The affected commands include ask, askq, define, assign, and getc, all of which can potentially trigger privilege escalation through carefully crafted long argument inputs. The vulnerability stems from the shared underlying function "doask" which handles the processing of these commands, making the exploitation vector more widespread than initially apparent. This issue is particularly concerning as it affects versions of C-Kermit prior to 8.0, indicating a long-standing flaw that was not properly addressed in the codebase.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves improper bounds checking within the kermit program's argument parsing mechanisms. When local users provide excessively long arguments to the vulnerable commands, the program fails to validate input length before copying data into fixed-size buffers. This classic buffer overflow condition allows attackers to overwrite adjacent memory locations, potentially corrupting program execution flow and enabling privilege escalation. The shared function "doask" serves as the common weak point where multiple command interfaces converge, creating a single attack surface that can be exploited through different entry points. According to CWE classification, this represents a CWE-121: Stack-based Buffer Overflow, where insufficient validation of input length leads to memory corruption. The vulnerability specifically aligns with ATT&CK technique T1068: Exploitation for Privilege Escalation, as the buffer overflow can be leveraged to execute arbitrary code with elevated privileges.
The operational impact of CVE-2003-0333 extends beyond simple denial of service scenarios, as local users with basic system access can potentially elevate their privileges to root level access. This privilege escalation capability transforms a local vulnerability into a serious security risk, particularly in environments where multiple users share system resources. The affected HP-UX versions 10.20 and 11.00 were widely deployed in enterprise environments, making this vulnerability particularly dangerous as it could affect numerous production systems. The vulnerability's persistence across multiple command interfaces means that exploitation attempts do not require specific command knowledge, as the underlying buffer overflow mechanism is shared. This characteristic increases the attack surface and makes the vulnerability more difficult to detect and remediate. Organizations running these vulnerable versions face significant risk of unauthorized privilege escalation, potentially leading to complete system compromise and data breaches.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on immediate patching of affected systems with updated C-Kermit versions that address the buffer overflow conditions. System administrators should prioritize updating to C-Kermit 8.0 or later versions where the underlying buffer handling has been corrected. Additionally, implementing input validation measures and monitoring for suspicious command usage patterns can help detect potential exploitation attempts. The vulnerability's nature suggests that runtime protections such as stack canaries or address space layout randomization may provide partial defense, though these are not complete solutions. Organizations should also consider restricting local user access to kermit commands where possible, implementing least privilege principles to minimize the potential impact of successful exploitation. Regular security auditing of system components and maintaining updated vulnerability databases will help prevent similar issues from remaining undetected in the environment. The vulnerability serves as a reminder of the importance of proper input validation and the need for comprehensive security testing of system components, particularly those handling user-provided data.