CVE-2003-0089

HP-UX B.11.00 and B.11.11 - Buffer Overflow via LANG Environment Variable

Title source: llm
STIX 2.1

Exploitation Summary

EIP tracks 1 public exploit for CVE-2003-0089. PoCs published by watercloud.

AI-analyzed exploit summary This exploit targets a buffer overflow vulnerability in HP-UX Software Distributor utilities (swinstall/swverify) to achieve local privilege escalation. It uses a crafted environment variable (LANG) to overflow the buffer and execute shellcode, granting a root shell.

Description

Buffer overflow in the Software Distributor utilities for HP-UX B.11.00 and B.11.11 allows local users to execute arbitrary code via a long LANG environment variable to setuid programs such as (1) swinstall and (2) swmodify.

Exploits (1)

exploitdb WORKING POC VERIFIED
by watercloud · clocalhp-ux
https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/23343

This exploit targets a buffer overflow vulnerability in HP-UX Software Distributor utilities (swinstall/swverify) to achieve local privilege escalation. It uses a crafted environment variable (LANG) to overflow the buffer and execute shellcode, granting a root shell.

Classification
Working Poc 95%
Attack Type
Lpe
Complexity
Moderate
Reliability
Reliable
Target: HP-UX Software Distributor (swinstall/swverify) on HP-UX 11.11/11.0
No auth needed
Prerequisites: Local access to the target HP-UX system · Presence of vulnerable swinstall or swverify utilities
devstral-2 · analyzed Feb 16, 2026 Full analysis →

References (6)

Core 6
Core References
Third Party Advisory mailing-list x_refsource_vulnwatch
http://archives.neohapsis.com/archives/vulnwatch/2003-q4/0038.html
Patch, Vendor Advisory vdb-entry x_refsource_bid
http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/8986
Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry vdb-entry x_refsource_xf
https://exchange.xforce.ibmcloud.com/vulnerabilities/13623
Patch, Vendor Advisory vendor-advisory x_refsource_hp
http://www.securityfocus.com/advisories/6030
Mailing List mailing-list x_refsource_bugtraq
http://marc.info/?l=bugtraq&m=106873965001431&w=2
Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry vdb-entry signature x_refsource_oval
https://oval.cisecurity.org/repository/search/definition/oval%3Aorg.mitre.oval%3Adef%3A5466

Scores

EPSS 0.0140
EPSS Percentile 68.9%

Details

Status published
Products (2)
hp/hp-ux 11.00
hp/hp-ux 11.11
Published Dec 15, 2003
Tracked Since Feb 18, 2026