CVE-2004-0135 in IRIX
Summary
by MITRE
the syssgi sgi_ioprobe system call in irix 6.5.20 through 6.5.24 allows local users to gain privileges by reading and writing to kernel memory.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/11/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2004-0135 represents a critical privilege escalation flaw within the SGI IRIX operating system version 6.5.20 through 6.5.24. This issue resides in the syssgi system call interface, specifically the sgi_ioprobe function which provides access to low-level hardware probing capabilities. The vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and memory access controls within the kernel subsystem that handles I/O probe operations. Attackers with local access can exploit this weakness by manipulating the system call parameters to read and write arbitrary kernel memory locations, effectively bypassing the operating system's privilege separation mechanisms.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability demonstrates a classic kernel memory corruption issue that aligns with CWE-125, which describes out-of-bounds read conditions. The sgi_ioprobe system call fails to properly validate user-supplied parameters before performing memory operations, allowing malicious input to direct kernel memory access patterns. This flaw operates at the kernel level where standard user-space protections are bypassed, enabling attackers to directly manipulate kernel data structures and potentially escalate privileges to root access. The vulnerability's impact is particularly severe because it requires only local user access to exploit, making it accessible to anyone with login credentials to the affected system.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability creates a significant security risk for IRIX systems running the affected versions. The privilege escalation capability allows local attackers to gain complete system control without requiring additional authentication or network access. The attack vector is relatively straightforward as it leverages existing system call interfaces rather than requiring complex exploitation techniques. Organizations running IRIX 6.5.20 through 6.5.24 are particularly vulnerable since the flaw exists in the core kernel functionality and cannot be mitigated through simple configuration changes. This vulnerability also aligns with ATT&CK technique T1068, which covers local privilege escalation through kernel exploits.
The mitigation strategy for this vulnerability involves immediate patching of the affected IRIX versions to address the kernel memory access controls. System administrators should also implement strict access controls and monitor for unauthorized local access attempts. Network segmentation and privilege separation measures can help reduce the attack surface, though they do not address the core kernel vulnerability. The fix typically requires updating the kernel system call interface to properly validate input parameters and enforce memory access boundaries. Additionally, organizations should conduct thorough security audits of their IRIX systems to identify any potential exploitation attempts and ensure that all systems are updated to patched versions.