Security Bulletin 9211 DISA Defense Communications System

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Security Bulletin 9211 DISA Defense Communications System
April 1, 1992 Published by: DDN Security Coordination Center
([email protected]) 1-(800) 365-3642

DEFENSE DATA NETWORK
SECURITY BULLETIN

The DDN SECURITY BULLETIN is distributed by the DDN SCC (Security
Coordination Center) under DISA contract as a means of communicating
information on network and host security exposures, fixes, and concerns
to security and management personnel at DDN facilities. Back issues may
be obtained via FTP (or Kermit) from NIC.DDN.MIL [192.112.36.5]
using login="anonymous" and password="guest". The bulletin pathname is
scc/ddn-security-yynn (where "yy" is the year the bulletin is issued
and "nn" is a bulletin number, e.g. scc/ddn-security-9211).
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! !
! The following important advisory was issued by the Computer !
! Emergency Response Team (CERT) and is being relayed unedited !
! via the Defense Information Systems Agency's Security !
! Coordination Center distribution system as a means of providing !
! DDN subscribers with useful security information. !
! !
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CA-92:07 CERT Advisory
March 31, 1992
AIX /bin/passwd Vulnerability

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The Computer Emergency Response Team/Coordination Center (CERT/CC) has
received information concerning a vulnerability with the passwd command
in AIX 3.2 and the 2007 update of AIX 3.1.

IBM is aware of this problem, and a fix is available as apar number
"ix23505". Patches are available for AIX 3.2 and the 2007 update of
AIX 3.1.

This fix may be ordered from Level 2 support or by anonymous ftp from
software.watson.ibm.com (129.34.139.5) on the Internet.

1. To order from IBM, call 1-800-237-5511 and ask
that the fix be shipped. Outside the U.S., you
may obtain patches by contacting your local IBM
representative.

2. If you are on the Internet, use anonymous ftp to obtain
the fix from software.watson.ibm.com.

Patch Filename Checksum
AIX 3.2 pub/aix3/pas.32.tar.Z 54431 2262
AIX 3.1 2007 pub/aix3/pas.31.tar.Z 06703 99

Patches should be retrieved using binary mode.

IBM is currently incorporating the fix into the 3.2 version and 3.1
updates of AIX. Future shipments of these products should not be
vulnerable to this problem. If you have any questions about products
you receive, please contact your IBM representative.
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I. Description

The passwd command contains a security vulnerability.

II. Impact

Local users can gain unauthorized root access.

III. Solution

A. As root, disable /bin/passwd until you obtain and install
the patch.

# chmod 0500 /bin/passwd

B. Obtain the fix from IBM and install according to the
directions provided with the patch.

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The CERT/CC would like to thank Paul Selick of the University of Toronto
for bringing this security vulnerability to our attention. We would also
like to thank IBM for their quick response to this problem, and for making
the patches available via anonymous ftp.
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If you believe that your system has been compromised, contact CERT/CC or
your representative in FIRST (Forum of Incident Response and Security Teams).

Internet E-mail: [email protected]
Telephone: 412-268-7090 (24-hour hotline)
CERT/CC personnel answer 7:30 a.m.-6:00 p.m. EST(GMT-5)/EDT(GMT-4),
on call for emergencies during other hours.

Computer Emergency Response Team/Coordination Center (CERT/CC)
Software Engineering Institute
Carnegie Mellon University
Pittsburgh, PA 15213-3890

Past advisories, information about FIRST representatives, and other
information related to computer security are available for anonymous ftp
from cert.sei.cmu.edu (192.88.209.5).

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* *
* The point of contact for MILNET security-related incidents is the *
* Security Coordination Center (SCC). *
* *
* E-mail address: [email protected] *
* *
* Telephone: 1-(800)-365-3642 *
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