CVE-2008-3947 in OpenVMS
Summary
by MITRE
DCL (aka the CLI) in OpenVMS Alpha 8.3 allows local users to gain privileges via a long command line.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/08/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2008-3947 affects the DCL (Digital Command Language) command line interpreter component within OpenVMS Alpha operating system version 8.3. This represents a classic buffer overflow condition that occurs when processing excessively long command line arguments. The DCL interface serves as the primary command execution mechanism for users interacting with the OpenVMS system, making this vulnerability particularly concerning as it can be exploited by local users who have access to the system. The flaw stems from inadequate input validation and bounds checking within the command line parsing routines that handle user-supplied arguments.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves a stack-based buffer overflow condition where the DCL parser fails to properly validate the length of command line arguments before copying them into fixed-size memory buffers. When a local user provides a command line that exceeds the predetermined buffer limits, the excess data overflows into adjacent memory locations, potentially corrupting the stack frame and executable code. This overflow can be carefully crafted to overwrite return addresses, function pointers, or other critical control data structures within the DCL execution environment. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-121 as a stack-based buffer overflow, which directly enables privilege escalation attacks through the manipulation of program execution flow.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple system instability or denial of service conditions. Local users who exploit this flaw can potentially elevate their privileges to the system level, gaining unauthorized access to sensitive system resources, files, and administrative functions. The attack vector requires only local system access, making it particularly dangerous in environments where multiple users share system resources or where privilege separation is not properly enforced. This vulnerability undermines the fundamental security model of OpenVMS by allowing unauthorized privilege escalation through a mechanism that should only execute legitimate user commands within defined parameter limits. The exploitation can result in complete system compromise, data theft, or persistent backdoor access.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should include immediate implementation of the vendor-provided security patches and updates for OpenVMS Alpha 8.3 systems. System administrators should also implement additional security controls such as limiting local user access to critical system functions, monitoring command line usage patterns for suspicious long argument sequences, and implementing proper input validation at the application level. The mitigation approach aligns with ATT&CK technique T1068 which addresses privilege escalation through local exploits. Organizations should also consider implementing privilege separation mechanisms, restricting command line argument length limits, and conducting regular security audits of system command interpreters. Additionally, deployment of intrusion detection systems capable of identifying abnormal command line patterns and implementing mandatory access controls can provide defense-in-depth protection against exploitation attempts.