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The U.S. Department of Energy
Computer Incident Advisory Capability
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ADVISORY NOTICE
Vulnerabilities in the SGI IRIX Help System
August 11, 1994 1700 PST Number E-33
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PROBLEM: Vulnerabilities in the SGI Help system allows unauthorized
access to a root shell.
PLATFORM: SGI IRIX 5.x.
DAMAGE: Unauthorized users can access a root shell without logging in.
SOLUTION: Retrieve and install the patches, or apply the workarounds
described below.
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VULNERABILITY These vulnerabilities have been widely discussed on many
ASSESSMENT: public forums on the Internet. Attack scripts have been
created and distributed. Vulnerabilities can only be
exploited by currently logged in users or by direct access to
the console. Although no attacks using these methods have been
confirmed as of the date of this bulletin, attacks using these
vulnerabilities are inevitable. CIAC recommends that all
patches be installed.
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Critical Information about the Help System vulnerabilities
CIAC has received information from Silicon Graphics, Inc. (SGI) concerning
vulnerabilities in the IRIX 5.x operating system that allow root access to
unauthorized users.
The vulnerabilities exist within the Help subsystem. They have been referred
to on the Internet by various names including clogin, printer manager, and SGI
Help. When exploited, a currently logged in user can create an active root
shell, or a person with physical access to the console can get an active root
shell without logging in.
SGI has issued patch65 to fix these vulnerabilities. This problem will be
corrected in a future release of IRIX. The patch will only fix the
vulnerabilities in IRIX 5.2; no patch is scheduled for IRIX 5.1. SGI
recommends that all IRIX 5.1 users upgrade to IRIX 5.2. A workaround solution
exists and is effective on all versions of IRIX 5.x. CIAC and SGI recommend
that all IRIX 5.2 users implement the workaround immediately until the IRIX
5.2 patch is obtained.
INSTALLATION OF THE WORKAROUND
To install the workaround, perform the following command as root:
# versions remove sgihelp.sw.eoe
This workaround will neutralize this avenue of attack; however it also renders
the Help subsystem inactive. This will affect other installed software that
use the SGI Help subsystem. Certain help functions from within applications
will return non-fatal error messages about the missing subsystem.
INSTALLATION OF THE PATCH (IRIX 5.2 only)
1. Determine which patch(es) you need.
To install the patch for the help vulnerabilities, you need to use the latest
SGI inst program named patch34. To see if you already have patch34 installed
on your system, issue the following command:
# versions patch\*
If the appropriate SGI inst program is loaded, the output will appear as
displayed below. Another patch, patchSG0000000, is functionally equivalent to
patch34; therefore if it is present you do not need to install patch34.
I =\ Installed, R = Removed
Name Date Description
I patchSG0000034 08/10/94 Patch SG0000034
I patchSG0000034.eoe1_sw 08/10/94 IRIX Execution Environment Software
I patchSG0000034.eoe1_sw.unix 08/10/94 IRIX Execution Environment
If neither patchSG0000034 nor patchSG0000000 is loaded, you must retrieve and
load both patch34 and patch65. Otherwise, you need only retrieve and install
patch65.
2. Retrieve the patch(es).
The patches can be retrieved in one of two methods: CD and anonymous ftp.
SGI has made a CD available which contains the patches. To receive this CD,
contact your nearest SGI service provider and ask for a copy of it.
The patches can be retrieved via anonymous ftp from ftp.sgi.com in the
directory ~ftp/security. CIAC is also making these patches available from
ciac.llnl.gov in the directory pub/ciac/patches/sgi. A third location of
these patches is first.org in the directory pub/software/sgi. Patch34 is
quite large, users are encouraged to download the patches from the closest ftp
site. SGI is keeping a list of alternate ftp sites in the file
ftp.sgi.com:~ftp/security/ALTERNATE.SITES.
Checksums for the patches are provided below.
Patch Standard System V MD5
Unix Unix Checksum
patch34.tar.Z 11066 15627 1674 31253 2859d0debff715c5beaccd02b6bebded
patch65.tar 63059 1220 15843 2440 af8c120f86daab9df74998b31927e397
3. Uninstall the workaround if it was applied to your system.
If you have applied the workaround and then wish to install the patch, the
system needs to be returned to its initial state prior to installation of the
patch. The original Help software can be found on the original software
distribution CD labeled as IRIX 5.2. To return the system to its initial
state, perform the following command as root IMMEDIATELY PRIOR TO INSTALLATION
OF THE PATCH:
# inst -f /CDROM/dist/sgihelp.sw.eoe
Inst> install sgihelp.sw.eoe
Inst> go
4. Install the patch(es).
First install patch34, after verifying the checksum. Uncompress and untar the
files. Inst the patch as you would any other SGI software, using the software
installation guide for additional information.
Next, install patch65 after verifying the checksum, then performing an untar
of the files. Inst the patch as you would any other SGI software.
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CIAC wishes to thank Silicon Graphics, Inc. for the information contained in
this bulletin, and Max Hailperin of Gustavus Adolphus College for his
investigation of these vulnerabilities.
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For additional information or assistance, please contact CIAC:
Voice: 510-422-8193
FAX: 510-423-8002
STU-III: 510-423-2604
E-mail: ciac@llnl.gov
Previous CIAC Bulletins and other information are available via anonymous FTP
from ciac.llnl.gov (IP address 128.115.19.53) formerly irbis.llnl.gov.
CIAC has several self-subscribing mailing lists for electronic publications:
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_____________________________________________________________________________
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