IBM AIX Phold Command Line Argument Local Buffer Overflow Vulnerability

Bugtraq ID:	13918
Class:	Boundary Condition Error
CVE:
Remote:	No
Local:	Yes
Published:	Jun 09 2005 12:00AM
Updated:	Jun 09 2005 12:00AM
Credit:	Discovery is credited to intropy <[email protected]>.
Vulnerable:	IBM AIX 5.3 L IBM AIX 5.2.2 IBM AIX 5.2 L IBM AIX 5.1 L IBM AIX 5.3 IBM AIX 5.2 IBM AIX 5.1
Not Vulnerable:

IBM AIX Phold Command Line Argument Local Buffer Overflow Vulnerability

IBM AIX phold is prone to a local buffer overflow vulnerability. This issue arises because the application fails to perform boundary checks prior to copying user-supplied data into insufficiently-sized memory buffers.

Attackers require gid system privileges to execute the affected setuid-superuser utility. A successful attack allows arbitrary machine code execution with superuser privileges, facilitating privilege escalation.

This vulnerability was reported on AIX 5.3, but other versions are also likely affected.

IBM AIX Phold Command Line Argument Local Buffer Overflow Vulnerability

Currently we are not aware of any exploits for this issue. If you feel we are in error or are aware of more recent information, please mail us at: [email protected] <mailto:[email protected]>.

IBM AIX Phold Command Line Argument Local Buffer Overflow Vulnerability

Solution:
IBM has released an advisory (IBM-06-10-2005) to address this and other issues. Fixes are not yet available. Please see the referenced advisory for further information regarding obtaining and applying appropriate updates.

IBM AIX Phold Command Line Argument Local Buffer Overflow Vulnerability

References:

• AIX Homepage (IBM)
  
• IBM AIX p* Commandline Argument Overflow (intropy )