CVE-2004-1375 in HP-UX
Summary
by MITRE
Unknown vulnerability in System Administration Manager (SAM) in HP-UX B.11.00, B.11.11, B.11.22, and B.11.23 allows local users to gain privileges.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/04/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2004-1375 represents a critical privilege escalation flaw within HP-UX System Administration Manager (SAM) across multiple versions including B.11.00, B.11.11, B.11.22, and B.11.23. This issue specifically affects the local user environment where unauthorized individuals can exploit system weaknesses to elevate their privileges from standard user level to administrative access. The SAM component serves as a crucial system administration tool within HP-UX operating systems, managing various administrative functions and user permissions, making this vulnerability particularly dangerous as it directly impacts the system's core security architecture.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from improper access controls and privilege management within the SAM implementation. Local users who can execute certain commands or access specific system interfaces may be able to manipulate the privilege escalation mechanisms through flawed input validation or insufficient permission checks. This type of vulnerability typically manifests when the system fails to properly verify user credentials or authorization levels before granting elevated privileges, creating a pathway for privilege elevation attacks. The flaw likely exists in the code handling administrative commands or user authentication processes within the SAM framework, where insufficient sanitization of user inputs or improper privilege validation allows malicious local users to bypass standard security controls.
The operational impact of CVE-2004-1375 extends beyond simple privilege escalation, potentially enabling attackers to gain complete control over affected systems. Once local users achieve elevated privileges, they can modify system configurations, install malicious software, access sensitive data, and compromise the integrity of the entire operating system. This vulnerability particularly affects enterprise environments where HP-UX systems are deployed, as it could allow attackers who have gained initial access through other means to escalate their privileges and maintain persistent access to critical infrastructure. The widespread deployment of these HP-UX versions across various organizations means that numerous systems could be vulnerable to exploitation, creating significant risk for organizations relying on these platforms for mission-critical operations.
Security professionals should consider this vulnerability in relation to CWE-264, which addresses permissions, privileges, and access controls, and potentially CWE-284, which covers improper access control mechanisms. The ATT&CK framework would categorize this vulnerability under privilege escalation techniques, specifically T1068 which targets local privilege escalation. Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including applying the latest security patches from HP, restricting local user access to SAM functionality, and implementing additional monitoring controls to detect unauthorized privilege escalation attempts. System administrators should also conduct comprehensive vulnerability assessments to identify systems running affected HP-UX versions and ensure proper access controls are in place to prevent local users from exploiting this weakness. Regular security audits and privilege management reviews become essential to maintain system integrity and prevent unauthorized access to administrative functions.