System V login argument array buffer overflow

Added: 03/30/2007
CVE: CVE-2001-0797
BID: 3681
OSVDB: 690

Background

The login program is used by various applications for authentication to the system.

Problem

The login program dervied from System V is affected by a buffer overflow vulnerability when processing a long argument array. A remote attacker could execute arbitrary commands by initiating a telnet or rlogin session with a large number of environment variables.

Resolution

Apply one of the patches referenced in Sun Document ID 00213.

References

http://www.cert.org/advisories/CA-2001-34.html

Limitations

Exploit works on Sun SPARC Solaris versions 2.6 (03/98) and 7 (11/99).

Platforms

SunOS / Solaris