CVE-2004-2729 in Connectivity
Summary
by MITRE
Inetd32 Administration Tool of Hummingbird Connectivity 7.1 and 9.0 allows local users to execute arbitrary code by changing the program for handling incoming connections.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/05/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2004-2729 represents a critical privilege escalation flaw within the Inetd32 Administration Tool component of Hummingbird Connectivity versions 7.1 and 9.0. This administrative interface, designed to manage internet services and daemon configurations, contains a fundamental design weakness that allows local attackers to manipulate the tool's behavior and execute arbitrary code with elevated privileges. The vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and improper privilege management within the administration tool's configuration handling mechanisms.
The technical flaw manifests when local users interact with the Inetd32 Administration Tool and modify the program responsible for handling incoming network connections. This manipulation creates a path for code execution because the tool fails to properly validate or sanitize the program paths specified by users. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-78 as a command injection flaw, where user-supplied input directly influences the execution of system commands. Attackers can exploit this weakness by substituting legitimate program paths with malicious executables, effectively hijacking the connection handling process and gaining unauthorized access to system resources.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple privilege escalation, as it provides attackers with a persistent foothold within the system. Local users who can access the administration tool can leverage this weakness to execute malicious code with the privileges of the tool's running process, typically elevated system privileges. This creates a significant security risk for organizations relying on Hummingbird Connectivity, as the vulnerability does not require network access or authentication, making it particularly dangerous in environments where local access is not properly restricted. The attack vector aligns with ATT&CK technique T1068, which involves the exploitation of legitimate credentials and system tools for privilege escalation.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including restricting local access to the Inetd32 Administration Tool, implementing proper access controls and privilege separation, and applying vendor-provided patches or updates. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of principle of least privilege in system administration tools and highlights the necessity of input validation in all components handling user-supplied configuration data. Security administrators should also conduct comprehensive audits of all administrative tools within their environment to identify similar weaknesses that could be exploited for privilege escalation attacks.