CVE-2006-0674 in AIX
Summary
by MITRE
Buffer overflow in the arp command of IBM AIX 5.3 L, 5.3, 5.2.2, 5.2 L, and 5.2 allows local users to cause a denial of service (crash) via a long iftype argument.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/29/2019
The vulnerability described in CVE-2006-0674 represents a classic buffer overflow condition affecting the arp command in multiple IBM AIX versions including 5.3 L, 5.3, 5.2.2, 5.2 L, and 5.2. This issue resides within the network administration utilities of the AIX operating system and demonstrates how insufficient input validation can lead to system instability. The arp command, which is fundamental for managing the Address Resolution Protocol table, becomes susceptible to exploitation when processing overly long iftype arguments. This particular buffer overflow occurs during the parsing of command line parameters, where the system fails to properly bounds-check the length of the iftype argument before copying it into a fixed-size buffer. The flaw specifically manifests as a stack-based buffer overflow, where the excessive input overflows the allocated buffer space and corrupts adjacent memory locations including return addresses and control data.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple denial of service as it provides a pathway for local privilege escalation and system compromise. When a local user provides a sufficiently long iftype argument, the buffer overflow can cause the arp command to crash and terminate unexpectedly, resulting in a denial of service condition that affects network connectivity and system stability. From a cybersecurity perspective, this vulnerability aligns with CWE-121, which describes stack-based buffer overflow conditions, and represents a significant weakness in input validation controls. The attack vector is local, meaning any user with access to the system can potentially exploit this flaw, making it particularly concerning for environments where multiple users share system resources. The vulnerability also intersects with ATT&CK technique T1068, which covers local privilege escalation through exploitation of system vulnerabilities, as the overflow could potentially be leveraged to execute arbitrary code with elevated privileges.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability must address both immediate remediation and long-term security hardening measures. The primary recommendation involves applying the appropriate IBM AIX security patches and updates that contain fixes for the buffer overflow condition in the arp command. System administrators should also implement input validation controls and parameter sanitization at the application level to prevent malformed inputs from reaching vulnerable code paths. Additional defensive measures include restricting local user access to critical system utilities, implementing proper privilege separation, and monitoring for unusual command execution patterns. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of secure coding practices and input validation, particularly in system-level utilities that handle user-provided data. Organizations should conduct regular security assessments of their AIX systems to identify similar buffer overflow conditions and other memory corruption vulnerabilities that could be exploited by malicious actors. The presence of such vulnerabilities in core system utilities underscores the necessity of maintaining up-to-date security patches and implementing comprehensive security monitoring solutions to detect and respond to exploitation attempts.