CVE-2003-0573 in IRIX
Summary
by MITRE
The DNS callbacks in nsd in SGI IRIX 6.5.x through 6.5.20f, and possibly earlier versions, do not perform sufficient sanity checking, with unknown impact.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/11/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2003-0573 affects the name server daemon nsd on SGI IRIX operating systems version 6.5.x through 6.5.20f and potentially earlier releases. This issue resides within the DNS callback mechanisms that handle dynamic updates and zone transfers within the name server implementation. The flaw manifests in insufficient input validation and sanity checking of callback parameters that are processed during DNS operations, creating a potential security exposure that could be exploited by malicious actors.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from inadequate validation of callback data structures and parameters within the nsd daemon's processing pipeline. When DNS servers receive dynamic update requests or zone transfer operations, they invoke callback functions to handle these requests. In the affected IRIX versions, the nsd implementation fails to properly validate the integrity and legitimacy of these callback parameters before executing the associated operations. This lack of proper sanitization creates opportunities for attackers to craft malformed DNS requests that could trigger unexpected behavior within the name server process. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-20 as "Improper Input Validation" and represents a classic case of insufficient sanity checking in system components that handle external input.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple denial of service scenarios, as the unspecified nature of the impact suggests potential for more severe consequences. Attackers could potentially exploit this weakness to cause the nsd daemon to crash, leading to service disruption for DNS resolution within the affected network. More concerning is the possibility that the inadequate validation could enable arbitrary code execution or privilege escalation within the name server process, given that DNS servers typically operate with elevated privileges to manage network services. The vulnerability affects the core DNS infrastructure of SGI IRIX systems, making it a critical security concern for organizations relying on these legacy platforms.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2003-0573 should prioritize immediate patching of affected IRIX systems through official SGI updates or vendor-provided security patches. System administrators should implement network segmentation and access controls to limit exposure of DNS servers to untrusted networks, following the principle of least privilege as outlined in the MITRE ATT&CK framework for DNS server operations. Additional protective measures include implementing DNS query filtering, monitoring for anomalous DNS traffic patterns, and configuring intrusion detection systems to identify potential exploitation attempts. Organizations should also consider implementing DNS security extensions and ensuring proper network access controls to minimize the attack surface. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of input validation in network services and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1071.004 for DNS tunneling and command and control communications. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be conducted to identify similar validation weaknesses in other network services and ensure comprehensive protection against similar classes of vulnerabilities.