Source: cve@mitre.org
Buffer overflow in statd allows root privileges.
Critical vulnerability in the statd service allows for remote root privilege escalation due to a buffer overflow. Successful exploitation grants attackers complete control over the compromised system, enabling data theft, system compromise, and lateral movement within the network.
Step 1: Target Identification: The attacker identifies systems running the vulnerable statd service, typically through port scanning (e.g., port 111 for RPC).
Step 2: Payload Crafting: The attacker crafts a malicious payload designed to overflow the buffer within statd. This payload includes shellcode to execute arbitrary commands with root privileges.
Step 3: Payload Delivery: The attacker sends the crafted payload to the vulnerable statd service, usually via an RPC request.
Step 4: Buffer Overflow Trigger: The statd service processes the malicious input, causing a buffer overflow when writing the oversized data to a fixed-size buffer.
Step 5: Control Hijack: The overflow overwrites the return address on the stack, redirecting program execution to the attacker's shellcode.
Step 6: Shellcode Execution: The shellcode executes with root privileges, granting the attacker complete control over the system.
Step 7: Privilege Escalation: The attacker now has root access and can perform any action on the compromised system, including installing backdoors, stealing data, and launching further attacks.
The vulnerability lies within the statd service, likely in the handling of network requests or data parsing. The root cause is a buffer overflow, where the service fails to properly validate the size of input data, allowing an attacker to write beyond the allocated memory buffer. This overwrites critical data on the stack, such as return addresses, and allows the attacker to redirect program execution to malicious code, ultimately leading to root privileges. The specific function or logic flaw is likely related to how statd processes incoming RPC requests or handles data received from other network services. The lack of bounds checking on input data is the primary cause.
This vulnerability is a known target for various threat actors. While specific APT groups are not definitively linked, the ease of exploitation makes it attractive to both sophisticated and less skilled attackers. It is highly likely that this vulnerability is exploited by various botnets for initial access and persistence. Not listed on CISA KEV due to its age and the fact that it is not a recent vulnerability.
Monitor network traffic for unusual RPC requests to port 111 (or the port statd is listening on).
Analyze system logs for suspicious activity related to statd, such as segmentation faults or unexpected crashes.
Examine process memory for signs of shellcode injection or unusual memory allocation patterns in the statd process.
Implement file integrity monitoring to detect changes to critical system files.
Use intrusion detection systems (IDS) with signatures for known statd buffer overflow exploits.
Look for unusual network connections originating from the affected server.
Patch the statd service to the latest version. This is the primary and most effective remediation step.
Implement network segmentation to limit the impact of a successful exploit.
Disable the statd service if it is not required for the system's functionality. This eliminates the attack surface.
Use a host-based intrusion detection system (HIDS) to monitor for malicious activity.
Implement strong access controls to restrict user privileges.
Regularly scan systems for vulnerabilities and apply patches promptly.
Review and harden the system's configuration to minimize the attack surface.