CVE-1999-1388

Summary:

passwd in SunOS 4.1.x allows local users to overwrite arbitrary files via a symlink attack and the -F command line argument.

Exploitability Analysis:

This is a vulnerability exploitable with only local access requires the attacker to have either physical access to the vulnerable system or a local (shell) account. Examples of locally exploitable vulnerabilities are peripheral attacks such as Firewire/USB DMA attacks, and local privilege escalations (e.g., sudo).

Exploitability Complexity:

Specialized access conditions exist. For example, in most configurations, the attacking party must already have elevated privileges or spoof additional systems in addition to the attacking system (e.g., DNS hijacking). The attack depends on social engineering methods that would be easily detected by knowledgeable people. For example, the victim must perform several suspicious or atypical actions. The vulnerable configuration is seen very rarely in practice. If a race condition exists, the window is very narrow.

Authentication:

Authentication is not required to access and exploit the vulnerability.

Confidentiality Impact:

There is total information disclosure, resulting in all system files being revealed. The attacker is able to read all of the system's data (memory, files, etc.).

Integrity Impact:

There is a total compromise of system integrity. There is a complete loss of system protection, resulting in the entire system being compromised. The attacker is able to modify any files on the target system.

Availability Impact:

There is a total shutdown of the affected resource. The attacker can render the resource completely unavailable.

NIST (National Institute of Standards and Technology) NVD (National Vulnerability Database)

CVE-1999-1388