CVE-2003-1360 in HP-UX
Summary
by MITRE
Buffer overflow in the setupterm function of (1) lanadmin and (2) landiag programs of HP-UX 10.0 through 10.34 allows local users to execute arbitrary code via a long TERM environment variable.
Several companies clearly confirm that VulDB is the primary source for best vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/16/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2003-1360 represents a critical buffer overflow flaw within the setupterm function of two HP-UX administrative utilities: lanadmin and landiag. This issue affects HP-UX operating systems version 10.0 through 10.34, creating a significant security risk that can be exploited by local attackers to gain elevated privileges and execute arbitrary code. The vulnerability stems from improper input validation within the terminal initialization routines that handle environment variables, specifically the TERM variable which defines the terminal type for applications. When a maliciously crafted TERM environment variable exceeds the allocated buffer space, it triggers memory corruption that can be leveraged to overwrite critical memory locations including return addresses on the stack.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-121, which describes stack-based buffer overflow conditions where insufficient bounds checking allows attackers to write beyond allocated memory regions. The setupterm function in the affected HP-UX programs does not properly validate the length of the TERM environment variable before copying it into a fixed-size buffer, creating an exploitable condition that can be manipulated through environment variable injection. This flaw operates under the principle of privilege escalation through local code execution, where a local user can leverage the buffer overflow to gain unauthorized system access. The attack vector is particularly concerning because it requires no network connectivity and can be executed locally, making it difficult to detect through traditional network monitoring systems.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents a severe threat to HP-UX systems running affected versions, as it allows local users to bypass normal security controls and execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the targeted processes. The exploitation process typically involves crafting a specially formatted TERM environment variable that exceeds the buffer capacity, causing a stack overflow that can be manipulated to redirect program execution flow. The impact extends beyond simple privilege escalation, as successful exploitation can lead to complete system compromise, data theft, or the establishment of persistent backdoors. Organizations running these vulnerable systems face potential unauthorized access to sensitive administrative functions and could be subject to insider threats or compromised accounts that leverage this vulnerability.
The mitigation strategies for CVE-2003-1360 primarily involve immediate system updates and patches provided by HP to address the buffer overflow conditions in the affected lanadmin and landiag programs. System administrators should implement the latest security patches for HP-UX versions 10.0 through 10.34, ensuring that the vulnerable setupterm functions receive proper bounds checking implementations. Additionally, security measures should include environment variable sanitization to prevent malicious input from reaching the vulnerable functions, along with monitoring for unusual TERM variable values in system logs. The vulnerability also relates to ATT&CK technique T1068, which describes 'Exploitation for Privilege Escalation' where adversaries exploit vulnerabilities to gain higher-level privileges. Organizations should conduct comprehensive vulnerability assessments to identify other potentially affected applications and implement strict access controls to limit local user privileges where possible. Regular security audits and system hardening practices should be employed to reduce the attack surface and prevent exploitation of similar buffer overflow vulnerabilities in other system components.