TUCoPS :: HP/UX :: n-086.txt

HP Tru64 UNIX Software Installation and Update Utilities Vulnerability (CIAC N-086)

             __________________________________________________________

                       The U.S. Department of Energy
                   Computer Incident Advisory Capability
                           ___  __ __    _     ___
                          /       |     /_\   /
                          \___  __|__  /   \  \___
             __________________________________________________________

                             INFORMATION BULLETIN

     HP Tru64 UNIX Software Installation and Update Utilities Vulnerability
                  [Hewkett-Packard Security Bulletin SSRT3471]

April 30, 2003 16:00 GMT                                          Number N-086
______________________________________________________________________________
PROBLEM:       HP Tru64 UNIX uses the dupatch and setld utilities to install 
               operating system updates and patches, and to add new software 
               kits to the system. When these scripts are run as root they are 
               potentially vulnerable to symlink attacks. 
SOFTWARE:      HP Tru64 UNIX:
                 V5.1B PK1 and earlier 
                 V5.1A PK4 and earlier 
                 V5.1 PK6 and earlier 
                 V5.0A PK3 and earlier 
                 V4.0G PK3 and earlier 
                 V4.0F PK7 and earlier 
DAMAGE:        A symlink attack typically results in a denial of service, but 
               could potentially allow root penetration by a local user. 
SOLUTION:      Apply workaround as listed in the HP bulletin. 
______________________________________________________________________________
VULNERABILITY  The risk is MEDIUM. It is normal to be running as root when the 
ASSESSMENT:    above mentioned utilities are run. 
______________________________________________________________________________
LINKS: 
 CIAC BULLETIN:      http://www.ciac.org/ciac/bulletins/n-086.shtml 
 ORIGINAL BULLETIN:  http://thenew.hp.com/country/us/eng/support.html 
______________________________________________________________________________

[***** Start Hewkett-Packard Security Bulletin SSRT3471 *****]

HP SECURITY BULLETIN

TITLE:  SSRT3471 - HP Tru64 UNIX Potential Security Vulnerability 
in Software Installation and Update Utilities

REVISION: 0

NOTICE: There are no restrictions for distribution of this Bulletin 
provided that it remains complete and intact.

RELEASE DATE: April 2003

SEVERITY:  High

SOURCE:  HEWLETT-PACKARD COMPANY
Software Security Response Team

REFERENCE:  SSRT3471

PROBLEM SUMMARY

This bulletin will be posted to the support website
within 24 hours of release to - 
http://thenew.hp.com/country/us/eng/support.html 
Use the SEARCH IN feature box, enter SSRT3471 in the search 
window.

SSRT3471 dupatch and setld utilities  (Severity High)

HP Tru64 UNIX uses the dupatch and setld utilities to install 
operating system updates and patches, and to add new software kits 
to the system. When these scripts are run as root, the normal case, 
they are potentially vulnerable to symlink attacks. A symlink attack 
typically results in a denial of service, but could potentially allow
root penetration by a local user.

VERSIONS IMPACTED

     HP Tru64 UNIX:

    V5.1B PK1 and earlier 
    V5.1A PK4 and earlier 
    V5.1 PK6 and earlier 
    V5.0A PK3 and earlier 
    V4.0G PK3 and earlier 
    V4.0F PK7 and earlier

NOT IMPACTED

    HP-UX

    HP-MPE/ix

    HP NonStop Servers

    HP OpenVMS

RESOLUTION

  HP Tru64 UNIX Recommended Workaround

  HP recommends that before applying patches, installing new 
software, or upgrading the operating system, the system should be 
shut down to single-user mode as outlined in the Tru64 UNIX 
Installation Guide or Patch Kit Installation Instructions.  Once user
processes are no longer active on the system, remove suspicious 
files from the temporary directories using the /usr/sbin/dirclean
utility as shown in the example below. It is then safe to proceed
with dupatch or setld.

If  the /usr/sbin/dirclean utility is not present on your system,
follow the instructions at  http://h30097.www3.hp.com/unix/security-
download.html to download a version to your system.

To apply patches or install new software on a TruCluster member, 
first shut the member down to single-user mode and change the 
protection on the temporary directories to allow write access only by
root.  This prevents malicious access from processes executing on 
other TruCluster members (any normal process uses the temporary 
directories of the member on which it executes).  Then use the 
dirclean utility as in the example.  After installing updates,
patches or new software, restore world-write access to the temporary
directories before continuing the system.

Shut the system to single-user mode as described in the Tru64 UNIX 
Installation Guide or Patch Kit Installation Instructions

Examine existing protection on temporary directories

$ ls -dl /var/cluster/members/{memb}/tmp/
drwxrwxrwt   3 root     system      8192 Feb 20 17:09 
/var/cluster/members/{memb}/tmp//

If you have a clustered system, change directory permissions to 
allow write access to root only

$ chmod 700  /var/cluster/members/{memb}/tmp/
$ ls -dl /var/cluster/members/{memb}/tmp/
drwx------   3 root     system      8192 Feb 20 17:09 
/var/cluster/members/{memb}/tmp//

Verify the files to be removed by dirclean

$ /usr/sbin/dirclean -k bcf -n /var/tmp/

Remove the files

$ /usr/dirclean  -k bcf /var/tmp/

At this point, it is safe to use dupatch or setld.

When you are finished, restore normal protection to temporary 
directories

$ chmod 1777  /var/cluster/members/{memb}/tmp/
$ ls -dl /var/cluster/members/{memb}/tmp/
drwxrwxrwt   3 root     system      8192 Feb 20 17:09 
/var/cluster/members/{memb}/tmp//

SUPPORT:

For further information, contact HP Services.

SUBSCRIBE:

To subscribe to automatically receive future Security Advisories from
the Software Security Response Team via electronic mail:
http://www.support.compaq.com/patches/mail-list.shtml

REPORT:

To report a potential security vulnerability with any HP supported 
product, send email to: security-alert@hp.com

As always, HP urges you to periodically review your system 
management and security procedures. HP will continue to review 
and enhance the security features of its products and work with our 
customers to maintain and improve the security and integrity of their
systems.

"HP is broadly distributing this Security Bulletin in order to bring
to the attention of users of the affected HP products the important 
security information contained in this Bulletin. HP recommends that 
all users determine the applicability of this information to their 
individual situations and take appropriate action. HP does not 
warrant that this information is necessarily accurate or complete for
all user situations and, consequently, HP will not be responsible for
any damages resulting from user's use or disregard of the 
information provided in this Bulletin."

(c)Copyright 2001, 2003 Hewlett-Packard Development Company, 
L.P. 

Hewlett-Packard Company shall not be liable for technical or
editorial errors or omissions contained herein. The information in
this  document is subject to change without notice. Hewlett-Packard 
Company and the names of Hewlett-Packard products referenced 
herein are trademarks of Hewlett-Packard Company in the United 
States and other countries. Other product and company names 
mentioned herein may be trademarks of their respective owners.

[***** End Hewkett-Packard Security Bulletin SSRT3471 *****]

_______________________________________________________________________________

CIAC wishes to acknowledge the contributions of Hewkett-Packard for the 
information contained in this bulletin.
_______________________________________________________________________________


CIAC, the Computer Incident Advisory Capability, is the computer
security incident response team for the U.S. Department of Energy
(DOE) and the emergency backup response team for the National
Institutes of Health (NIH). CIAC is located at the Lawrence Livermore
National Laboratory in Livermore, California. CIAC is also a founding
member of FIRST, the Forum of Incident Response and Security Teams, a
global organization established to foster cooperation and coordination
among computer security teams worldwide.

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PLEASE NOTE: Many users outside of the DOE, ESnet, and NIH computing
communities receive CIAC bulletins.  If you are not part of these
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This document was prepared as an account of work sponsored by an
agency of the United States Government. Neither the United States
Government nor the University of California nor any of their
employees, makes any warranty, express or implied, or assumes any
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