CVE-2003-0723 in gkrellm
Summary
by MITRE
Buffer overflow in gkrellmd for gkrellm 2.1.x before 2.1.14 may allow remote attackers to execute arbitrary code.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/16/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2003-0723 represents a critical buffer overflow flaw within the gkrellmd daemon component of the gkrellm system monitoring tool. This issue affects versions 2.1.x prior to 2.1.14, creating a significant security risk that could be exploited by remote attackers to gain unauthorized code execution privileges. The gkrellm suite is widely used for system monitoring and provides real-time data visualization for various system metrics including CPU usage, memory consumption, and network statistics. The gkrellmd daemon serves as the core component responsible for collecting and transmitting this monitoring data to client applications, making it a critical element in the system's architecture.
The technical nature of this buffer overflow stems from inadequate input validation within the gkrellmd service when processing network requests from remote clients. Specifically, the daemon fails to properly bounds-check data received through network connections, allowing attackers to send maliciously crafted input that exceeds the allocated buffer space. This condition creates a memory corruption scenario where adjacent memory locations become overwritten, potentially allowing an attacker to manipulate program execution flow. The vulnerability manifests when remote clients connect to the gkrellmd service and submit specially crafted data packets that trigger the buffer overflow condition. According to CWE classification, this represents a classic buffer overflow vulnerability categorized under CWE-121, which deals with stack-based buffer overflow conditions that can lead to arbitrary code execution.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple privilege escalation, as successful exploitation could enable attackers to execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the gkrellmd daemon process. Since this daemon typically runs with elevated privileges to access system monitoring data, attackers could potentially gain root or administrator access to the compromised system. The remote nature of the attack vector means that adversaries need not have physical access to the target system, making this vulnerability particularly dangerous in networked environments. This vulnerability directly maps to several ATT&CK techniques including T1059.007 for command and scripting interpreter and T1068 for exploit for privilege escalation, as the initial compromise leads to elevated system access.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2003-0723 primarily focus on immediate patch application, as the vendor released version 2.1.14 to address this specific buffer overflow vulnerability. Organizations should prioritize updating their gkrellm installations to the patched version to eliminate the risk of exploitation. Additional protective measures include implementing network segmentation to restrict access to the gkrellmd service, configuring firewall rules to limit connections to the daemon, and disabling the daemon service if it is not actively required. Network monitoring should be enhanced to detect unusual traffic patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. System administrators should also consider implementing intrusion detection systems that can identify potential buffer overflow exploitation attempts. The vulnerability highlights the importance of proper input validation and bounds checking in network services, reinforcing industry best practices recommended in standards such as the OWASP Top 10 and NIST cybersecurity guidelines. Regular security audits and vulnerability assessments should be conducted to identify similar issues in other system components, as this vulnerability demonstrates how seemingly minor input validation flaws can result in critical security breaches.