CVE-2003-0575 in IRIX
Summary
by MITRE
Heap-based buffer overflow in the name services daemon (nsd) in SGI IRIX 6.5.x through 6.5.21f, and possibly earlier versions, allows attackers to gain root privileges via the AUTH_UNIX gid list.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/18/2024
The vulnerability described in CVE-2003-0575 represents a critical heap-based buffer overflow within the name services daemon nsd on SGI IRIX operating systems. This flaw exists in versions ranging from 6.5.x through 6.5.21f and potentially affects earlier releases in the same lineage. The vulnerability specifically manifests when processing the AUTH_UNIX gid list, which is part of the Unix authentication mechanism used for network service authentication. The name services daemon serves as a critical component for resolving hostnames and other network services within the IRIX environment, making this vulnerability particularly dangerous as it could provide attackers with elevated privileges.
The technical implementation of this buffer overflow occurs within the heap memory management of the nsd process when handling authentication requests containing maliciously crafted gid lists. The flaw arises from insufficient bounds checking on the input data, allowing an attacker to write beyond the allocated memory buffer and potentially overwrite adjacent heap memory structures. This type of vulnerability falls under CWE-121, heap-based buffer overflow, which is classified as a serious memory safety issue that can lead to arbitrary code execution. The attack vector specifically targets the AUTH_UNIX authentication mechanism, where the gid list parameter is processed without adequate validation of its length or content.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe as it enables privilege escalation from regular user level to root privileges, effectively granting attackers complete control over the affected system. Once exploited, an attacker can execute arbitrary code with the highest system privileges, potentially leading to complete system compromise, data exfiltration, or establishment of persistent backdoors. The vulnerability affects the core networking infrastructure of IRIX systems, making it particularly attractive to attackers seeking to establish footholds in environments that rely heavily on these operating systems. Systems running affected versions of IRIX are at significant risk, especially those with network services enabled that utilize the name services daemon.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should include immediate patching of the nsd component to address the heap buffer overflow issue. System administrators should apply the latest security updates provided by SGI to resolve the vulnerability in the name services daemon. Additionally, network segmentation and firewall rules should be implemented to limit access to the affected services, reducing the attack surface. Monitoring for suspicious authentication attempts and anomalous network traffic patterns can help detect exploitation attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of maintaining up-to-date system patches and implementing proper input validation for all network services. From an ATT&CK perspective, this vulnerability maps to privilege escalation techniques and can be leveraged as part of a broader attack chain to establish persistent access to target systems. Organizations should also consider implementing runtime protection mechanisms and regular security assessments to identify similar vulnerabilities in legacy systems.