Source URL: https://it.slashdot.org/story/24/10/29/2029233/local-privilege-escalation-vulnerability-affecting-xorg-server-for-18-years?utm_source=rss1.0mainlinkanon&utm_medium=feed
Source: Slashdot
Title: Local Privilege Escalation Vulnerability Affecting X.Org Server For 18 Years
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Summary: The text discusses CVE-2024-9632, a security vulnerability in the X.Org Server that has persisted for 18 years. This flaw could allow for local privilege escalation and is critical for professionals involved in software and information security, particularly those managing server infrastructure.
Detailed Description:
CVE-2024-9632 is a notable security vulnerability that has been documented in the X.Org Server, an integral part of graphical user interfaces in Unix and Unix-like operating systems. Here are the key points regarding this vulnerability:
– **Long-standing Issue**: The vulnerability has existed in the X.Org Server codebase for 18 years, indicating a significant oversight in maintaining and updating security measures.
– **Nature of Vulnerability**: It allows for a heap-based buffer overflow, which can lead to local privilege escalation. This means that if an attacker can exploit this vulnerability, they can gain higher-level access than originally granted on the system.
– **Affected Versions**: The issue originates from the X.Org Server 1.1.1 release (2006) and also affects XWayland, which is important for applications seeking to run on Wayland.
– **Specific Code Function**: The vulnerability is tied to the function _XkbSetCompatMap(), which has inadequate handling of heap size updates. This poor management can be exploited in scenarios where the server runs with root privileges.
– **Remote Exploitation**: There is potential for remote code execution through X11 over SSH connections, amplifying the risk associated with this vulnerability.
– **Security Advisory**: The advisory accompanying the CVE gives critical insights into the potential impacts and mitigations.
This information is essential for professionals focusing on security, as it emphasizes the need for rigorous vulnerability management practices and ongoing assessments of server configurations and software updates. Given the longstanding nature of this vulnerability, organizations must prioritize remediation to prevent exploitation.