CVE-2005-1019 in Aeon
Summary
by MITRE
Buffer overflow in the getConfig function in Aeon 0.2a and earlier allows local users to gain privileges via a long HOME environment variable.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/25/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2005-1019 represents a critical buffer overflow flaw within the Aeon software version 0.2a and earlier releases. This security weakness specifically affects the getConfig function implementation, which fails to properly validate the length of the HOME environment variable before processing it. The flaw exists in the software's privilege escalation mechanism, creating an opportunity for local attackers to execute arbitrary code with elevated privileges. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it leverages environment variable manipulation, a common attack vector that can be easily exploited without requiring network access or sophisticated techniques. The buffer overflow occurs when the system attempts to store an excessively long HOME environment variable value into a fixed-size buffer, causing memory corruption that can be exploited to overwrite adjacent memory locations. This type of vulnerability falls under the CWE-121 category of Stack-based Buffer Overflow, where insufficient bounds checking allows attackers to overwrite stack memory. The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple privilege escalation as it can potentially allow attackers to execute malicious code with the privileges of the targeted user or system process. The exploitation of this flaw requires local system access, making it particularly dangerous in environments where users might have shell access or where legitimate users could be tricked into executing malicious commands. The vulnerability demonstrates poor input validation practices and highlights the importance of implementing proper buffer size checking mechanisms in software development. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability through the standard environment variable manipulation techniques, making it accessible to a wide range of threat actors from casual script kiddies to more sophisticated adversaries. The attack surface is further expanded by the fact that many system processes and applications rely on environment variables for configuration data, potentially creating cascading effects if multiple applications share similar implementation flaws. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1068 which focuses on exploiting vulnerabilities in legitimate programs, and T1059 which covers command and scripting interpreter usage. The flaw also represents a failure in secure coding practices that should have been addressed through proper defensive programming techniques such as buffer size validation and bounds checking. System administrators and security professionals should prioritize patching affected systems as this vulnerability can be exploited to gain unauthorized access to sensitive data or system resources. The remediation approach involves updating to a patched version of Aeon software that implements proper bounds checking for environment variable handling, along with implementing runtime protections such as stack canaries or address space layout randomization to mitigate potential exploitation attempts. Organizations should also conduct thorough vulnerability assessments to identify other applications that might be susceptible to similar buffer overflow conditions in their environments. The vulnerability underscores the importance of comprehensive security testing during software development cycles, including thorough input validation and boundary condition testing to prevent such exploitable conditions from reaching production environments.