CVE-2004-1124 in UnixWare
Summary
by MITRE
Unknown vulnerability in chroot on SCO UnixWare 7.1.1 through 7.1.4 allows local users to escape the chroot jail and conduct unauthorized activities.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/17/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2004-1124 represents a critical security flaw in the chroot system call implementation within SCO UnixWare operating systems version 7.1.1 through 7.1.4. This issue stems from improper handling of directory traversal mechanisms that allow local attackers to bypass the intended security boundaries of chroot environments. The chroot mechanism is designed to isolate processes within a specific directory tree, effectively creating a sandboxed environment where users cannot access files outside of this designated area. However, this vulnerability undermines that fundamental security principle by enabling malicious users to navigate outside the restricted directory structure.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through specific path manipulation techniques that exploit weaknesses in how the operating system processes directory change operations within chroot environments. Attackers can leverage this flaw by carefully crafting file paths or utilizing symbolic links that, when processed within the chroot context, allow them to traverse up the directory hierarchy and access files or directories that should remain restricted. This behavior violates the core security model of chroot jails and demonstrates a failure in proper path validation and access control enforcement. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it affects the kernel-level implementation of chroot functionality, making it difficult to patch at the application level and requiring system-level intervention.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability creates significant risk for systems running SCO UnixWare 7.1.1 through 7.1.4, particularly those that rely on chroot jails for process isolation. Local users who can exploit this vulnerability gain access to files, directories, and system resources that should be protected by the chroot environment, potentially enabling them to escalate privileges, access sensitive data, or launch further attacks against the system. The attack vector is particularly dangerous because it requires only local access, meaning that any user with login privileges on the system can potentially exploit this weakness. This vulnerability directly impacts the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of system resources by allowing unauthorized access to restricted areas of the filesystem.
The mitigation strategies for CVE-2004-1124 primarily involve upgrading to newer versions of SCO UnixWare that contain fixed implementations of the chroot system call, as well as implementing additional access controls and monitoring mechanisms. System administrators should also consider alternative isolation techniques such as containerization or virtualization approaches that provide more robust security boundaries than traditional chroot environments. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-22, which describes improper limitation of a pathname to a restricted directory, and relates to ATT&CK technique T1068, which covers local privilege escalation through system weaknesses. Organizations should conduct thorough security assessments to identify systems running vulnerable SCO UnixWare versions and implement comprehensive patch management programs to address this and related vulnerabilities. The incident also underscores the importance of proper kernel security testing and validation, particularly for core system functions that form the foundation of operating system security models.