CVE-2005-0160 in unace
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple buffer overflows in unace 1.2b allow attackers to execute arbitrary code via (1) 2 overflows in ACE archives, (2) a long command line argument, or (3) certain "Ready for next volume" messages.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/17/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2005-0160 affects the unace 1.2b utility, which is a command-line tool designed for extracting files from ace archive format. This flaw represents a critical security issue that manifests through multiple attack vectors, making it particularly dangerous for systems that process untrusted ace archives. The vulnerability stems from improper input validation and memory management within the decompression routines of the utility, creating opportunities for malicious actors to exploit the software through carefully crafted archive files or command-line inputs.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves three distinct buffer overflow conditions that can be triggered during the processing of ace archives. The first two overflow conditions occur during the parsing of ACE archive structures, where insufficient bounds checking allows attackers to overwrite adjacent memory locations through malformed archive data. The third overflow condition arises from handling of command-line arguments that exceed expected length limits, while the fourth vulnerability manifests through specific "Ready for next volume" messages that can be manipulated to cause buffer overflows. These buffer overflows create opportunities for arbitrary code execution by allowing attackers to overwrite return addresses, function pointers, or other critical memory structures within the application's execution context.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple privilege escalation, as it enables remote code execution on systems that process ace archives through the affected unace utility. Attackers can leverage these vulnerabilities to execute malicious code with the privileges of the user running the unace utility, potentially leading to complete system compromise. The vulnerability affects systems where the unace utility is installed and used for processing ace archives, particularly those that automatically extract archives without user intervention or those that process archives from untrusted sources. The attack vectors are particularly concerning because they can be triggered through legitimate archive processing operations, making them difficult to detect and prevent through traditional network monitoring approaches.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on immediate patching of the unace utility to version 1.2c or later, which contains the necessary memory bounds checking and input validation fixes. Organizations should also implement strict input validation policies for ace archives, particularly those received from external sources or untrusted parties. System administrators should consider disabling automatic extraction of ace archives and implementing sandboxed environments for processing potentially malicious archive files. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-121, which addresses stack-based buffer overflow conditions, and CWE-122, which covers heap-based buffer overflow scenarios. From an attack framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for command and scripting interpreter, as attackers can leverage the arbitrary code execution capabilities to establish persistent access. Additionally, the vulnerability demonstrates characteristics of T1203, which involves exploiting software vulnerabilities for privilege escalation, and T1068, which covers privilege escalation through local exploits. Organizations should also consider implementing application whitelisting policies to prevent execution of untrusted versions of the unace utility and monitor for suspicious command-line arguments that might indicate exploitation attempts.