Re: IBM-ERS Security Vulnerability Alert: The AIX ftp client

Troy A. Bollinger (troy@AUSTIN.IBM.COM)
Thu, 06 Nov 1997 12:19:28 -0600

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Lutz Donnerhacke wrote:
> * af@C4C.COM wrote:
> >I also wonder about IBM's answer:
> >SOLUTION: Remove the setuid bit from the "ftp" command.
> >
> >On our 4.2.1, ftp will not run if it is not suid.
> >Didn't somebody test this?
>
> Yep. ftp does not need suid:

The AIX ftp client MUST BE SETUID to work for non-root users.

>
> DFN-CERT corrected the solution of IBM. It was a false statment according to
> them.
>

DFN-CERT is correct. The solution listed in the advisory header should
have said to apply the fixes listed in the advisory. The setuid fiasco
was a mistake on my part.

The correct fix for the AIX ftp client bug is to apply the following
fixes:

AIX 3.2: upgrade to v4
AIX 4.1: IX70885
AIX 4.2: IX70886
AIX 4.3: fix already contained in the release

These fixes are available and may be obtained using FixDist or from the
IBM Support Center. For more information on FixDist, reference URL:

http://service.software.ibm.com/aixsupport/

Questions relating to AIX security advisories can be emailed to
security-alert@austin.ibm.com. New AIX vulnerabilities can be PGP
encrypted using the AIX Security public key available by sending email
to security-alert@austin.ibm.com with a subject of "get key".

- --
Troy Bollinger troy@austin.ibm.com
AIX Security Development security-alert@austin.ibm.com
PGP keyid: 1024/0xB7783129 Troy's opinions are not IBM policy

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