CVE-2003-1359 in HP-UX
Summary
by MITRE
Buffer overflow in stmkfont utility of HP-UX 10.0 through 11.22 allows local users to gain privileges via a long command line argument.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/20/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2003-1359 represents a critical buffer overflow flaw within the stmkfont utility component of Hewlett-Packard's HP-UX operating system versions 10.0 through 11.22. This issue resides in the command line argument processing mechanism where insufficient bounds checking allows malicious input to overwrite adjacent memory regions. The stmkfont utility is typically used for creating font files within the HP-UX environment, making it a legitimate system tool that could be exploited by local attackers who already have system access. The buffer overflow occurs when the utility processes command line arguments without proper validation of input length, creating a condition where an attacker can supply an excessively long argument that exceeds the allocated buffer space. This vulnerability falls under the CWE-121 category of stack-based buffer overflow, which is classified as a fundamental memory safety issue in software development practices. The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple denial of service, as it enables privilege escalation from a local user to a higher privileged level, potentially allowing attackers to execute arbitrary code with elevated system permissions. According to ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability maps to T1068 which covers privilege escalation techniques, specifically targeting local user accounts to gain system-level access. The exploitation process involves crafting a specially formatted command line argument that overflows the buffer and overwrites return addresses or other critical memory locations, enabling the attacker to redirect program execution flow. This type of vulnerability is particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where HP-UX systems may be running with elevated privileges, as it provides a direct path to system compromise. The affected HP-UX versions represent a broad range of the operating system's lifecycle, indicating that this vulnerability was present across multiple generations of the platform. Security researchers have documented similar patterns in other HP-UX utilities where command line parsing routines lacked proper input validation, making this a systemic issue within the software stack. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of input validation and proper memory management practices in system utilities, as even legitimate administrative tools can become attack vectors when proper security controls are absent. Organizations using these HP-UX versions should consider immediate patching strategies to address the buffer overflow, as the risk of exploitation remains significant given the local access requirements and the potential for privilege escalation. The remediation approach typically involves either patching the stmkfont utility with proper bounds checking or implementing additional input validation mechanisms to prevent command line arguments from exceeding predetermined limits. Additionally, system administrators should implement monitoring controls to detect unusual command line argument patterns that might indicate attempted exploitation of this vulnerability. The broader implications of this vulnerability highlight the necessity of regular security assessments of system utilities and the importance of maintaining up-to-date security patches to prevent exploitation of known buffer overflow conditions.