Testing from the console and from a telnet session this morning shows
that the properly set and written to memory password appears secure.
None of my tests this morning succeeded in entering enable mode without a
full and valid password entry. I do not know what state the device was
in when the attempt outlined below succeeded and I have not been able to
duplicate it without removing the password and writing to memory without
a password set.
I would like to thank Cisco and John for their quick attention to this
matter. Cisco remains one of the most professional outfits out there.
Sincerly
Lloyd Vancil
>-----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE-----
>
>Preliminary Notice:
>Cisco LocalDirector Enable Password Loss
>
>November 15, 1997, 09:00 AM US/Pacific, Revision 1
>- ------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
>This is a preliminary notice describing a security problem about which there
>has been customer concern. Cisco does not yet have full information about
>this problem. Customers should use great caution in relying on the
>information in this notice.
>
>Summary
>- -----
>At least two customers have reported failures in the enable password
>mechanism in version 1.6.3 of Cisco's LocalDirector product. Affected
>systems allow users to enter privileged mode without providing the correct
>enable password; any string will suffice as a password. This applies only to
>the privileged-mode enable password; the TELNET access password does not
>appear to be affected.
>
>The failure has been reproduced in Cisco's laboratory, but not consistently.
>The conditions under which the failure occurs are not known in detail.
>
>Based on the information presently available, the source of the problem
>seems to be that the LocalDirector "forgets" its configured enable password
>upon being upgraded to version 1.6.x from an older software version. A
>LocalDirector without a configured enable password still does prompt for a
>password, even though that password is not checked. This means that the
>system's administrator may not notice that the password has been lost for
>quite some time, if ever.
>
>Who is Affected
>- -------------
>All LocalDirector customers should check to see that their enable passwords
>are being enforced properly. Use the "enable" command to enter privileged
>mode, and give an invalid password. If the invalid password is accepted, you
>are affected.
>
>If the invalid password is not accepted, you are not affected at present...
>but bear in mind that we do not yet fully understand the conditions under
>which passwords are lost. Until the problem is better understood, we suggest
>that all LocalDirector customers, and especially all LocalDirector 1.6.3
>customers, take special precautions as outlined in the "Workarounds" section
>below.
>
>This problem probably affects all 1.6.x versions of the LocalDirector
>software. However, version 1.6.3 is the only 1.6.x version that has been
>released to Cisco's general customer base.
>
>Because the LocalDirector code is almost entirely separate from the code
>used in other Cisco products, it is extremely unlikely that any product
>other than the LocalDirector is affected. Classic IOS, as used on Cisco
>routers, shares absolutely no password or configuration management code with
>the LocalDirector, and is therefore definitely not affected. Catalyst
>switches and FastPacket switches are likewise definitely not affected.
>
>Impact
>- ----
>Any person who can log into an affected LocalDirector via TELNET or over its
>its console port can reconfigure or shut down the LocalDirector.
>
>Workarounds
>- ---------
>Cisco recommends that customers take the following steps:
>
> 1. Consider postponing any scheduled software upgrades to version 1.6.3.
> 2. Check to make sure that enable passwords are being enforced by all
> LocalDirectors. If you find that a LocalDirector is not enforcing its
> enable password, changing the password using the "enable password"
> configuration command should reactivate the password. Remember to save
> the new password using the "write memory" command. Recheck password
> enforcement after any software upgrade or downgrade.
> 3. Make sure that you have configured a TELNET access password for your
> LocalDirector using the "password" configuration command. If you're not
> sure of the secrecy of your TELNET password, consider changing it. If
> you allow unprivileged TELNET access by users who should not have
> privileged access, consider denying those users access temporarily by
> changing the TELNET password.
> 4. If you have a dialin modem connected to your LocalDirector's console
> port, or if you have the console port connected to a network device
> that allows remote access, either disconnect the console or protect it
> using the authentication features of the modem or network device to
> which it is connected.
>
>Exploitation and Public Announcements
>- -----------------------------------
>Cisco has had no reports of malicious exploitation of this vulnerability.
>
>This vulernability was first brought to Cisco's attention by a public
>announcement on the "bugtraq@netspace.org" mailing list on Thursday,
>November 13. There has been some subsequent discussion on that mailing list.
>
>Future Work and Updates
>- ---------------------
>Cisco will continue working to characterize this problem and to produce a
>software fix. Updated versions of this notice will be posted on Cisco's
>Worldwide Web site as more information becomes available.
>
>Distribution of this Notice
>- -------------------------
>This notice is being sent to the following Internet mailing lists and
>newsgroups:
>
> * cisco@spot.colorado.edu
> * comp.dcom.sys.cisco
> * bugtraq@netspace.org
> * first-teams@first.org (includes CERT/CC)
>
>Updates will be sent to some or all of these, as appropriate.
>
>This notice will be posted in the "Field Alerts" section of Cisco's
>Worldwide Web site. The copy on the Worldwide Web will be updated as
>appropriate.
>
>This notice is copyright 1997 by Cisco Systems, Inc. This notice may be
>redistributed freely provided that redistributed copies are complete and
>unmodified, including all date and version information.
>
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-------------------------------------------------------------
* Why is 'abbreviation' such a long word?
-------------------------------------------------------------
lev@apple.com