CVE-2004-1180 in rwho
Summary
by MITRE
Unknown vulnerability in the rwho daemon (rwhod) before 0.17, on little endian architectures, allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (application crash).
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/30/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2004-1180 affects the rwho daemon or rwhod service which is part of the rwho package designed to provide remote who services on Unix-like systems. This daemon typically runs on port 513/tcp and is responsible for broadcasting user login information across a network. The vulnerability specifically impacts systems using little endian architecture processors, which include most modern x86 and x86_64 systems. The rwho daemon has been deprecated in modern operating systems due to security concerns and the availability of more secure alternatives, but legacy systems may still be vulnerable to this issue.
The technical flaw manifests as a buffer overflow or improper input validation within the rwho daemon's handling of network packets received on the designated port. When the daemon processes malformed or specially crafted input data from remote attackers, it fails to properly validate the size or structure of incoming data packets. This leads to memory corruption that causes the application to crash and terminate unexpectedly, resulting in a denial of service condition. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it can be exploited remotely without requiring authentication, making it an attractive target for attackers seeking to disrupt network services.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple service disruption as it can be leveraged as part of broader attack strategies. Network administrators may find their systems becoming unavailable for legitimate user access, potentially affecting productivity and system availability. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper input validation and memory management in network services, as even deprecated services can pose security risks in legacy environments. Organizations running older Unix systems or embedded devices that still utilize the rwho daemon are particularly at risk, as these systems may not receive regular security updates or patches.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on immediate remediation through patching the rwho daemon to version 0.17 or later, which contains the necessary fixes for the buffer handling issues. System administrators should also consider disabling the rwho daemon entirely if it is not required for business operations, as the service provides minimal security benefits while posing significant risks. Network segmentation and firewall rules can be implemented to block access to port 513/tcp from untrusted networks, reducing the attack surface. Additionally, monitoring for unusual traffic patterns or service disruptions related to the rwho daemon can help detect exploitation attempts. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-121 which covers stack-based buffer overflow conditions, and may be categorized under ATT&CK technique T1499 for network denial of service attacks. Organizations should also implement regular vulnerability assessments to identify and remediate similar issues in legacy network services that may not be receiving ongoing security support.