CVE-2003-1356 in HP-UX
Summary
by MITRE
The "file handling" in sort in HP-UX 10.01 through 10.20, and 11.00 through 11.11 is "incorrect," which allows attackers to gain access or cause a denial of service via unknown vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/22/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2003-1356 represents a critical file handling flaw within the sort command implementation on HP-UX operating systems across multiple versions including 10.01 through 10.20 and 11.00 through 11.11. This issue falls under the broader category of improper input validation and file system manipulation that can lead to privilege escalation or system instability. The vulnerability stems from how the sort utility processes file arguments and handles various input scenarios, creating potential attack vectors that adversaries can exploit to compromise system integrity.
The technical flaw manifests in the incorrect handling of file operations within the sort command, where the system fails to properly validate or sanitize file paths and input parameters. This improper file handling can occur when the sort utility processes files with specific characteristics or when it encounters malformed input that triggers unexpected behavior in the underlying file processing routines. The vulnerability's classification aligns with CWE-22, which addresses improper limitation of a pathname to a restricted directory, and CWE-121, which covers stack-based buffer overflow conditions. Attackers can potentially leverage this weakness to execute arbitrary code with elevated privileges or to cause denial of service conditions by manipulating file input to the sort command.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple privilege escalation as it can enable attackers to gain unauthorized access to system resources or disrupt normal system operations through carefully crafted input sequences. When exploited, the vulnerability may allow an attacker to bypass security controls, access sensitive files, or cause the sort command to behave unpredictably, potentially leading to system crashes or unauthorized data access. The attack surface is particularly concerning given that sort is a commonly used system utility, making the vulnerability accessible to attackers who can leverage it in various attack scenarios including privilege escalation, data exfiltration, or service disruption.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2003-1356 should prioritize immediate system updates and patches from HP to address the underlying file handling implementation issues. System administrators should implement strict input validation controls and monitor for unusual file processing patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability's characteristics align with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for command and scripting interpreter, where attackers might leverage the sort command to execute malicious payloads. Additionally, implementing network segmentation, access controls, and regular security audits can help reduce the attack surface and prevent unauthorized exploitation of this file handling vulnerability in HP-UX environments.