CVE-2006-5558

HP-UX B.11.11 - Local Format String Vulnerability via swask -s Argument

Title source: llm
STIX 2.1

Exploitation Summary

EIP tracks 1 public exploit for CVE-2006-5558. PoCs published by prdelka.

AI-analyzed exploit summary This exploit leverages a format string vulnerability in the HP-UX 'swask' utility (setuid root) via the '-s' argument to achieve local privilege escalation. It uses a two-step approach: first to leak memory addresses and then to overwrite a target address with shellcode execution.

Description

Format string vulnerability in the swask command in HP-UX B.11.11 and possibly other versions allows local users to execute arbitrary code via format string specifiers in the -s argument. NOTE: this might be a duplicate of CVE-2006-2574, but the details relating to CVE-2006-2574 are too vague to be certain.

Exploits (1)

exploitdb WORKING POC VERIFIED
by prdelka · clocalhp-ux
https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/2635

This exploit leverages a format string vulnerability in the HP-UX 'swask' utility (setuid root) via the '-s' argument to achieve local privilege escalation. It uses a two-step approach: first to leak memory addresses and then to overwrite a target address with shellcode execution.

Classification
Working Poc 95%
Attack Type
Lpe
Complexity
Moderate
Reliability
Reliable
Target: HP-UX swask (B.11.11)
No auth needed
Prerequisites: Local access to HP-UX system with vulnerable swask binary · swask must be setuid root
devstral-2 · analyzed Feb 16, 2026 Full analysis →

References (4)

Core 4
Core References
Exploit, Patch vdb-entry x_refsource_bid
http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/20726
Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry vdb-entry signature x_refsource_oval
https://oval.cisecurity.org/repository/search/definition/oval%3Aorg.mitre.oval%3Adef%3A5804
Exploit, Third Party Advisory exploit x_refsource_exploit-db
https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/2635

Scores

EPSS 0.0723
EPSS Percentile 93.5%

Details

Status published
Products (4)
hp/hp-ux 11.00
hp/hp-ux 11.4
hp/hp-ux 11.11
hp/hp-ux 11.23
Published Oct 27, 2006
Tracked Since Feb 18, 2026