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             The Computer Incident Advisory Capability
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                           INFORMATION BULLETIN

       Vulnerabilities in SAS¨ System release 5.18 for VAX/VMS

February 28, 1992, 1700 PT                                  Number C-19

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PROBLEM: SAS System release 5.18 installation leaves its directories and startup file unprotected.
PLATFORM: VAX/VMS systems with SAS System release 5.18 installed.
DAMAGE: Unprivileged user could obtain all privileges.
SOLUTIONS: Set directories [SAS518], [SAS518.TOOLS], and SAS518.COM to world-read, world-execute.
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            Critical Information About SAS 5.18 Vulnerability


CIAC has learned of a vulnerability in SAS System release 5.18, distributed in 1988 for the VAX/VMS operating system.  Subsequent releases (6 and above) do not have this problem.  Release 5.18 is still in use and supported by the SAS Institute.

Specifically, an installation of SAS System 5.18 will incorrectly set protections on directories [000000]SAS518.DIR and [SAS518]TOOLS.DIR, as well as its startup file [SAS518.TOOLS]SAS518.COM. 

CIAC recommends issuing the following commands from the SYSTEM account:
$ SET PROTECTION=(S:RWE,O:RWE,G:RE,W:RE) disk_name:[000000]SAS518.DIR
$ SET PROTECTION=(S:RWED,O:RWED,G:RE,W:RE) SAS$ROOT:[000000...]*.*;*

SAS has sent an advisory notice to supported SAS installations.  Additionally, SAS Note SYS.INST-V5722I documents this problem.  If you wish to discuss this with SAS, call SAS Technical Support, 919-677-8008, and ask for a VMS Consultant (9 to 5 Eastern time). 

For additional information or assistance, please contact CIAC:

	Allan L. Van Lehn
	(510) 422-6652/(FTS) 542-6652
	vanlehn3@llnl.gov

Call CIAC at (510) 422-8193/(FTS) 532-8193 or send e-mail tociac@llnl.gov.  FAX messages to: (510) 423-8002/(FTS) 543-8002.

Previous CIAC bulletins and other information is available via anonymous ftp from irbis.llnl.gov (ip address 128.115.19.60).  

PLEASE NOTE: Many users outside of the DOE and ESnet computing communities receive CIAC bulletins.  If you are not part of these communities, please contact your agency's response team to report incidents.  Some of the other teams include the NASA NSI response team, DARPA's CERT/CC, NAVCIRT, and the Air Force response team. Your agency's team will coordinate with CIAC.

CIAC wishes to thank John J Stafford and Maggie Underberg who provided some of the information used in this bulletin.  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 legal liability or responsibility for the accuracy, completeness, or usefulness of any information, apparatus, product, or process disclosed, or represents that its use would not infringe privately owned rights.  Reference herein to any specific commercial products, process, or service by trade name, trademark, manufacturer, or otherwise, does not necessarily constitute or imply its endorsement, recommendation or favoring by the United States Government or the University of California.  The views and opinions of authors expressed herein do not necessarily state or reflect those of the United States Government or the University of California, and shall not be used for advertising or product endorsement purposes.

SAS¨ is a registered trademark of the SAS Institute Inc., SAS Campus Drive, Cary, NC 27513.