Analyst readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
This is a legacy local privilege escalation in Caché Database 5.x. The installer reportedly left a key executable writable by any local user. If an attacker already has local access, they may be able to alter it and gain higher privileges.
Executive priority
Prioritize if Caché Database 5.x remains in production, especially on shared Unix-like systems. Risk is lower than remote code execution, but privilege escalation can turn a minor local foothold into server compromise.
Technical view
Caché Database 5.x installs /cachesys/bin/cache with world-writable permissions. The CVE states local users can gain privileges by modifying that file and causing privileged execution through cuxs. No CVSS, CWE, vendor-fixed version, or confirmed exploitation evidence is included in the bundle.
Likely exposure
Exposure is likely limited to legacy hosts running Caché Database 5.x with the affected installation path and local user access. Internet-only exposure is not indicated by the sources.
Exploitation context
The issue requires local access; the provided sources do not support active exploitation or remote exploitation. CISA KEV status is false in the bundle.
Researcher notes
Evidence is sparse and old. The CVE description identifies the vulnerable permission and local privilege escalation vector, but the bundle lacks CVSS scoring, affected CPEs, fixed versions, and detailed vendor remediation.
Mitigation direction
- Check vendor support alerts for supported remediation or upgrade guidance.
- Audit Caché Database 5.x hosts for world-writable installation binaries.
- Align /cachesys/bin/cache permissions with vendor-supported secure settings.
- Restrict local shell access to trusted administrators only.
- Monitor affected binaries for unauthorized modification.
Validation and detection
- Inventory systems for Caché Database 5.x installations.
- Inspect whether /cachesys/bin/cache exists on legacy hosts.
- Verify the file is not writable by unprivileged local users.
- Review local account access on affected servers.
- Check vendor advisories for confirmed fixed versions or procedures.
Public sources used
Based on public source material and reviewed before publication.
Conservative CVE-to-ATT&CK context
These mappings and lookup hints may be relevant to the vulnerability behavior, CWE, affected product, or exposure path. Glexia-inferred context is not an official MITRE, ATT&CK, CWE, or CVE Program mapping.
ATT&CK lookup starting points
Use these exact CWE pages and searches to review the Glexia ATT&CK library from this CVE's weakness and description context.
Database behavior lookup
The CVE wording references database injection or access, so collection and exfiltration review may help. This is a Glexia inferred lookup path, not an official MITRE, ATT&CK, or CVE Program mapping.
Open ATT&CK lookupCVE-2003-0497 mapping review
Open the CVE-to-ATT&CK bridge for reviewed, inferred, or future official mappings tied to this CVE.
Open ATT&CK lookup- Severity
- Unknown
- CVSS
- Not scored
- Known Exploited
- No
- Published
CNA and ADP enrichment extracted from CVE v5
These fields come from the CVE record and ADP containers, not from Glexia's Take. They preserve time-varying source decisions such as CISA SSVC, KEV status, CVSS metrics, and provider references.
CVSS and timeline data
No CVSS vectors or timeline events were available in the normalized CVE source material.
Source materials
- CVE List V5 sourceCVE List V5
- 20030701 Caché Insecure Installation File and Directory PermissionsCVE reference · third-party-advisory, x_refsource_IDEFENSE
- https://www.intersystems.com/support-learning/support/product-news-alerts/support-alerts-2003/CVE reference · x_refsource_CONFIRM
Products and packages named in the record
CWE details
CWE links open Glexia weakness intelligence pages with official CWE context, developer remediation guidance, and related CVE mappings.