CVE-2004-1115 in SETI
Summary
by MITRE
the init scripts in search for extraterrestrial intelligence (seti) project 3.08-r3 and earlier execute user-owned programs with root privileges which allows local users to gain privileges by modifying the programs.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/01/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2004-1115 resides within the init scripts of the Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence (SETI) project version 3.08-r3 and earlier. This represents a critical privilege escalation flaw that fundamentally undermines the security model of the system. The SETI project, designed for distributed computing and scientific research, inadvertently created a mechanism where system initialization scripts could execute programs owned by regular users with elevated root privileges. This design flaw creates a direct pathway for local attackers to manipulate the system's boot process and gain administrative control.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from improper privilege handling within the init script execution environment. When the SETI project's init scripts run during system startup or maintenance operations, they fail to properly validate or restrict the execution context of user-owned programs. This misconfiguration allows local users to substitute or modify executable files that the init scripts are designed to run, effectively enabling them to inject malicious code that executes with root privileges. The vulnerability specifically relates to the absence of proper file ownership verification and privilege separation mechanisms during script execution phases. This flaw operates under the CWE-276 principle of incorrect default permissions and falls into the category of privilege escalation vulnerabilities where insufficient access controls allow unauthorized elevation of privileges.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe and far-reaching for any system running affected versions of the SETI project software. Local users who can modify files in the system directories accessible to the init scripts can effectively compromise the entire system by replacing legitimate executables with malicious counterparts. This creates a persistent backdoor that can be leveraged for ongoing system compromise, data exfiltration, or further attack escalation. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it operates silently during system initialization, making detection difficult and potentially allowing attackers to establish long-term presence without immediate detection. Attackers can exploit this by creating malicious programs that execute with root privileges, potentially leading to complete system takeover, data corruption, or unauthorized access to sensitive information. The attack surface is expanded by the fact that this vulnerability affects the boot process itself, meaning that even if other security mechanisms are in place, the compromised init scripts can bypass them entirely.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2004-1115 require immediate implementation of proper privilege separation and file integrity controls. System administrators should upgrade to versions of the SETI project software that address this vulnerability, as the original affected versions are no longer supported. The recommended approach involves implementing strict file ownership and permission controls for all programs executed by init scripts, ensuring that only root-owned executables are executed with elevated privileges. Additionally, system integrity verification mechanisms should be deployed to monitor for unauthorized modifications to critical system files. The solution aligns with ATT&CK technique T1068 which focuses on privilege escalation through the exploitation of system-level processes and scripts. Organizations should also implement monitoring for unusual init script activity and establish proper file system auditing to detect unauthorized modifications. The fundamental fix requires ensuring that init scripts operate with minimal required privileges and validate all executables before execution, preventing user-owned programs from being executed with root privileges under any circumstances.