CVE-2005-1395 in Ceterm
Summary
by MITRE
Buffer overflow in Ce/Ceterm (aka ARPUS/Ce) 2.5.4 and earlier may allow local users to gain privileges via a long (1) XAPPLRESLANGPATH or (2) XAPPLRESDIR environment variable, or (3) command line argument.
If you want to get the best quality for vulnerability data then you always have to consider VulDB.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/24/2017
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2005-1395 represents a critical buffer overflow flaw within the Ce/Ceterm application suite, specifically affecting versions 2.5.4 and earlier. This issue resides in the handling of environment variables and command line arguments, creating a pathway for local attackers to escalate privileges on affected systems. The vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and bounds checking within the application's parsing logic for three specific parameters: XAPPLRESLANGPATH, XAPPLRESDIR, and command line arguments. These environment variables are typically used to specify resource locations and application configuration paths, making them attractive targets for exploitation due to their frequent use in system initialization processes.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the application's failure to properly validate the length of input data when processing these environment variables and command line parameters. When a local user provides an excessively long string value for any of these parameters, the application's buffer allocation mechanism fails to account for the overflow, leading to memory corruption that can be exploited to execute arbitrary code with elevated privileges. This type of vulnerability falls under the CWE-121 category of Stack-based Buffer Overflow, where insufficient bounds checking allows attackers to overwrite adjacent memory locations. The exploitation process typically involves crafting malicious input that overflows the designated buffer, potentially overwriting return addresses or other critical program state information.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple privilege escalation, as it provides attackers with a persistent foothold within the system that can be leveraged for further compromise. Local privilege escalation vulnerabilities are particularly dangerous because they require minimal attack surface and can be exploited by users who already have access to the system, making detection more challenging. The vulnerability affects systems running the Ce/Ceterm application, which is commonly used in enterprise environments for terminal emulation and remote access services. Attackers can exploit this weakness to gain root or administrative privileges, potentially leading to complete system compromise, data exfiltration, or the installation of backdoors. The attack vector is relatively simple, requiring only local access and the ability to set environment variables or pass command line arguments, making it particularly concerning for environments where local user access is not strictly controlled.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2005-1395 should focus on immediate remediation through vendor-provided patches and updates to the Ce/Ceterm application. Organizations should prioritize upgrading to versions that have addressed this buffer overflow vulnerability, as the original affected versions are no longer supported and likely contain additional undiscovered security flaws. System administrators should implement strict input validation controls and consider implementing environment variable sanitization measures to prevent malicious input from reaching the vulnerable application. The implementation of address space layout randomization and stack canaries can provide additional defense-in-depth measures against exploitation attempts. Additionally, monitoring for unusual environment variable usage patterns and command line argument combinations can help detect potential exploitation attempts. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1068 which covers 'Exploitation for Privilege Escalation' and demonstrates the importance of proper input validation as outlined in the OWASP Top 10 security principles. Organizations should also consider implementing least privilege access controls and regular security assessments to identify and remediate similar vulnerabilities across their software inventory.