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[CIAC] INFORMATION BULLETIN

M-043: Hewlett-Packard Buffer Overflow in Telnet Server Vulnerability

[Hewlett-Packard Company Security Bulletin #023]

February 14, 2002 21:00 GMT
  ------------------------------------------------------------------------
 PROBLEM:           There is a buffer overflow in the telnet server code.
 PLATFORM:          Any system running HP Secure OS software for Linux
                    Release 1.0.
 DAMAGE:            A local user could upgrade privileges, up to and
                    including root.
 SOLUTION:          Apply the appropriate RPMs as prescribed below by
                    Hewlett-Packard.
  ------------------------------------------------------------------------
 VULNERABILITY      The risk is MEDIUM. The local user must have a
 ASSESSMENT:        legitimate account to exploit this vulnerability.
  ------------------------------------------------------------------------

 LINKS:
   CIAC BULLETIN:          http://www.ciac.org/ciac/bulletins/m-043.shtml
  ------------------------------------------------------------------------

[***** Start Hewlett-Packard Company Security Bulletin #023 *****]

---------------------------------------------------------------
    HEWLETT-PACKARD COMPANY SECURITY BULLETIN: #023
    Originally issued: 13 February '02
---------------------------------------------------------------

The information in the following Security Bulletin should be acted
upon as soon as possible.  Hewlett-Packard Company will not be
liable for any consequences to any customer resulting from the
customer's failure to fully implement instructions in this Security
Bulletin as soon as possible.

Because the vulnerability does not require a HP Secure OS
1.0 patch or re-packaging of the RPM affected by the bulletin, the
RPMs have not been produced or tested by Hewlett-Packard Company.

---------------------------------------------------------------
PROBLEM:  Buffer overflow in telnet server

PLATFORM: Any system running HP Secure OS software for Linux Release 1.0

DAMAGE:   Potential unauthorized execution of commands with root privileges

SOLUTION: Apply the appropriate RPMs (see section B below)

MANUAL ACTIONS: None

AVAILABILITY: The RPMs are available now.
 ---------------------------------------------------------------
 A. Background

    A malicious local user could exploit a buffer overflow in the
    telnet server to gain root access. Telnet server is not included
    in the default installation of HP Secure OS Software for Linux.

 B. Fixing the problem

    Hewlett-Packard Company recommends that customers download the RPMs
    listed in the following Red Hat Security Advisory:

    2002-02-07 telnet (RHSA-2001:099-09) New telnet packages available to
    fix buffer overflow vulnerabilities

    http://www.redhat.com/support/errata/RHSA-2001-099.html

    To install the security bulletin RPMs, use the following sequence
    of commands:

    1. If you use the tripwire product, we recommend that you run a
       a consistency check and fix any violations before installing
       the security bulletin RPM.

           tripwire --check --interactive

    2. Install the bulletin RPM from the root account.

           rpm -F

    3. Update the tripwire database

           tripwire --check --interactive

    NOTE:
    The rpm -q  command can be used to determine if the
    package is installed. Hewlett-Packard Company recommends applying the
    Security Bulletin fixes to installed packages only. The -F option
    to the RPM installer will only apply the fix if the package is
    currently installed on the system. Dependent RPMs can be found by
    using the "Find Latest RPMs" search facility at
    http://www.redhat.com/apps/download. To find the latest dependent
    RPM enter the RPM's name in the "By Keyword" box.


 C. To subscribe to automatically receive future HP Security
    Bulletins from the HP IT Resource Center via electronic
    mail, do the following:

    Use your browser to access the HP IT Resource Center page
    at:

       http://itrc.hp.com

    Use the 'Login' tab at the left side of the screen to login
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    "Register" button at the left to create a login. Remember to
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    In the leftmost frame select "Maintenance and Support".

    Under the "Notifications" section (near the bottom of
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    To -subscribe- to future HP Security Bulletins or other
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    for the appropriate digest and then click the "Update
    Subscriptions" button at the bottom of the page.

    or

    To -review- bulletins already released, select the link
    (in the middle column) for the appropriate digest.

 D. To report new security vulnerabilities, send email to

    security-alert@hp.com

    Please encrypt any exploit information using the
    security-alert PGP key, available from your local key
    server. You may also get the security-alert PGP key by
    sending a message with a -subject- (not body) of
    'get key' (no quotes) to security-alert@hp.com.

    Permission is granted for copying and circulating this bulletin to
    Hewlett-Packard Company (HP) customers (or the Internet community)
    for the purpose of alerting them to problems, if and only if, the
    bulletin is not edited or changed in any way, is attributed to HP,
    and provided such reproduction and/or distribution is performed
    for non-commercial purposes.

    Any other use of this information is prohibited. HP is not
    liable for any misuse of this information by any third party.
 ---------------------------------------------------------------
[***** End Hewlett-Packard Company Security Bulletin #023 *****]

  ------------------------------------------------------------------------
CIAC wishes to acknowledge the contributions of Hewlett-Packard Company for
the information contained in this bulletin.
  ------------------------------------------------------------------------
CIAC services are available to DOE, DOE Contractors, and the NIH. CIAC can
be contacted at:

    Voice:          +1 925-422-8193 (7 x 24)
    FAX:            +1 925-423-8002
    STU-III:        +1 925-423-2604
    E-mail:          ciac@llnl.gov
    World Wide Web:  http://www.ciac.org/
                     http://ciac.llnl.gov
                     (same machine -- either one will work)
    Anonymous FTP:   ftp.ciac.org
                     ciac.llnl.gov
                     (same machine -- either one will work)

  ------------------------------------------------------------------------
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
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  ------------------------------------------------------------------------
UCRL-MI-119788
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