L-031: Sun AnswerBook2 Vulnerability

PROBLEM:       Security vulnerabilities exist in the http server (dwhttpd)
               included in Sun Solaris(tm) AnswerBook2.
PLATFORM:      Any systems running a version of AnswerBook2 before 1.4.2, AND
               Answerbook2 version 1.4.2 without the appropriate patch.
DAMAGE:        A vulnerability exists that allows a malicious user to access
               the administration of AnswerBook2 as well as the ability to run
               arbitrary commands on the remote host as the webserver user
               (daemon).
SOLUTION:      Update AnswerBook2 to the latest version (at least version
               1.4.2) AND install the appropriate AnswerBook2 patch.
VULNERABILITY  The risk is HIGH. This vulnerability is being actively
ASSESSMENT:    exploited.

[****** Start Sun Microsystems Advisory ******]

-----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE-----

______________________________________________________________________________
                   Sun Microsystems, Inc. Security Bulletin

Bulletin Number:        #00196
Date:                   August 07, 2000
Cross-Ref:              S21SEC-004
Title:                  AnswerBook2
______________________________________________________________________________

The information contained in this Security Bulletin is provided "AS IS."
Sun makes no warranties of any kind whatsoever with respect to the information
contained in this Security Bulletin. ALL EXPRESS OR IMPLIED CONDITIONS,
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES, INCLUDING ANY WARRANTY OF NON-INFRINGEMENT OR
IMPLIED WARRANTY OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, ARE
HEREBY DISCLAIMED AND EXCLUDED TO THE EXTENT ALLOWED BY APPLICABLE LAW.

IN NO EVENT WILL SUN MICROSYSTEMS, INC. BE LIABLE FOR ANY LOST REVENUE,
PROFIT OR DATA, OR FOR DIRECT, SPECIAL, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, INCIDENTAL
OR PUNITIVE DAMAGES HOWEVER CAUSED AND REGARDLESS OF ANY THEORY OF LIABILITY
ARISING OUT OF THE USE OF OR INABILITY TO USE THE INFORMATION CONTAINED IN
THIS SECURITY BULLETIN, EVEN IF SUN MICROSYSTEMS, INC. HAS BEEN ADVISED OF
THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES.

If any of the above provisions are held to be in violation of applicable law,
void, or unenforceable in any jurisdiction, then such provisions are waived
to the extent necessary for this disclaimer to be otherwise enforceable in
such jurisdiction.
______________________________________________________________________________

1.  Bulletins Topics

    Sun announces the release of a new version of AnswerBook2 and patches
    which relate to security flaws in the http server included with
    AnswerBook2.

    Sun recommends that you follow the directions in section 4 to
    upgrade your AnswerBook2 server and install the listed patch
    immediately on all systems running AnswerBook2.

2.  Who is Affected

    AnswerBook2:

        Vulnerable:     Any systems running a version of AnswerBook2
                        before 1.4.2.  Answerbook2 version 1.4.2 without the
                        appropriate patch listed below.
        Not vulnerable: All systems not running AnswerBook2.


3.  Understanding the Vulnerability

    Sun Solaris(tm) AnswerBook2 ships with an HTTP server (dwhttpd)
    that allows users to access Solaris documentation using a web browser.

    A vulnerability exists that allows a malicious user to access the
    administration of AnswerBook2 as well as the ability to run arbitrary
    commands on the remote host as the webserver user (daemon).


4.  Corrective Action

    Two steps are required to protect against these vulnerabilities.

    Step 1)  Update AnswerBook2 to the latest version (at least version 1.4.2)
    The latest version of AnswerBook2 can be dowloaded from:

    http://www.sun.com/software/ab2/dwnld_versions.html

    Step 2)  Install the AnswerBook2 patch

    Answerbook2 Version         Patch ID
    __________                  _________
    1.4.2                       110011-02
    1.4.2_x86                   110012-02

______________________________________________________________________________

Sun acknowledges, with thanks, Lluis Mora from S21SEC for bringing
this vulnerability to our attention.
______________________________________________________________________________
APPENDICES

A.  Patches listed in this bulletin are available to all Sun customers at:

    http://sunsolve.sun.com/securitypatch

B.  Checksums for the patches listed in this bulletin are available at:

    ftp://sunsolve.sun.com/pub/patches/CHECKSUMS

C.  Sun security bulletins are available at:

    http://sunsolve.sun.com/security

D.  Sun Security Coordination Team's PGP key is available at:

    http://sunsolve.sun.com/pgpkey.txt

E.  To report or inquire about a security problem with Sun software, contact
    one or more of the following:

        - Your local Sun answer centers
        - Your representative computer security response team, such as CERT
        - Sun Security Coordination Team. Send email to:

                security-alert@sun.com

F.  To receive information or subscribe to our CWS (Customer Warning System)
    mailing list, send email to:

                security-alert@sun.com

    with a subject line (not body) containing one of the following commands:

        Command         Information Returned/Action Taken
        _______         _________________________________

        help            An explanation of how to get information

        key             Sun Security Coordination Team's PGP key

        list            A list of current security topics

        query [topic]   The email is treated as an inquiry and is forwarded to
                        the Security Coordination Team

        report [topic]  The email is treated as a security report and is
                        forwarded to the Security Coordination Team. Please
                        encrypt sensitive mail using Sun Security Coordination
                        Team's PGP key

        send topic      A short status summary or bulletin. For example, to
                        retrieve a Security Bulletin #00138, supply the
                        following in the subject line (not body):

                                send #138

        subscribe       Sender is added to our mailing list.  To subscribe,
                        supply the following in the subject line (not body):

                                subscribe cws your-email-address

                        Note that your-email-address should be substituted
                        by your email address.

        unsubscribe     Sender is removed from the CWS mailing list.
______________________________________________________________________________

Copyright 2000 Sun Microsystems, Inc. All rights reserved. Sun,
Sun Microsystems, Solaris and SunOS are trademarks or registered trademarks
of Sun Microsystems, Inc. in the United States and other countries. This
Security Bulletin may be reproduced and distributed, provided that this
Security Bulletin is not modified in any way and is attributed to
Sun Microsystems, Inc. and provided that such reproduction and distribution
is performed for non-commercial purposes.

-----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE-----
Version: PGP 6.5.2

iQCVAwUBOY7g37dzzzOFBFjJAQG80AQAql0n9z1wGQpaL9Ogk6Nqn2yylbTC9aec
3mqDTxHGCdrIrgcxa0SxBT2qlIS+ilSo/JdWYXH21VdNT1p6yp5i4+OMGUfkbMoT
RdJqGwf1R5RfgSRVHKIQhcNRaaFK3ebncEMO6zUwp4AEJxfgYxLmbxKcSHTeL8O7
BalPxlyNfnU=
=/B+u
-----END PGP SIGNATURE-----

[****** End Sun Microsystems Advisory ******]

    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)