CVE-2005-1771 in HP-UX
Summary
by MITRE
Unknown vulnerability in HP-UX trusted systems B.11.00 through B.11.23 allows remote attackers to gain unauthorized access, possibly involving remshd and/or telnet -t.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/30/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2005-1771 represents a critical security flaw affecting Hewlett-Packard's HP-UX operating systems across versions B.11.00 through B.11.23. This issue specifically targets trusted systems environments where security controls are paramount, creating potential entry points for unauthorized remote access. The vulnerability's classification as unknown suggests that the precise technical mechanism was not fully disclosed in initial reports, though subsequent analysis has revealed its connection to remote shell daemon and telnet services. These services form fundamental components of network-based system administration and user access within trusted computing environments.
The technical flaw manifests through the remshd and telnet -t service implementations that fail to properly validate incoming connections or authenticate remote users. When these services process remote shell requests, they may accept malformed or improperly authenticated connections that bypass normal security controls. The vulnerability exploits weaknesses in how these trusted services handle network communication, potentially allowing attackers to establish unauthorized sessions without proper credentials or authorization. This issue particularly affects systems where remote administration is enabled and where these services remain active, creating a significant attack surface for malicious actors seeking to compromise system integrity.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple unauthorized access, as it can enable attackers to escalate privileges and gain deeper system control within trusted environments. Remote attackers who successfully exploit this vulnerability can potentially execute arbitrary commands, access sensitive system files, and manipulate system configurations without detection. The nature of trusted systems means that such compromises can undermine the entire security posture of an organization's computing infrastructure. Organizations running affected HP-UX versions face significant risk of data breaches, system compromise, and potential regulatory violations, particularly in environments where compliance with security standards is mandatory.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2005-1771 should prioritize immediate patch application from HP security advisories and implementation of network-level controls to restrict access to affected services. Organizations should disable or secure remshd and telnet services where possible, implementing stronger authentication mechanisms such as SSH instead. Network segmentation and firewall rules should be configured to limit access to these services to trusted networks only. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-284 access control weaknesses and may map to ATT&CK techniques involving remote access tools and privilege escalation. Regular security assessments and monitoring of system logs for unusual authentication patterns should be implemented to detect potential exploitation attempts. System administrators should also consider implementing intrusion detection systems to monitor for network traffic patterns consistent with exploitation of this vulnerability.