IBM-ERS Security Vulnerability Alert: The AIX "routed" daemon allows

ibm-ers@ERS.IBM.COM
Thu, 08 Jan 1998 15:58:07 -0500

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EMERGENCY RESPONSE SERVICE
SECURITY VULNERABILITY ALERT

08 January 1998 20:30 GMT Number: ERS-SVA-E01-1998:001.1
===============================================================================
VULNERABILITY SUMMARY

VULNERABILITY: The "routed" daemon allows remote users to modify system
files.

PLATFORMS: IBM AIX(r) 3.2.x, 4.1.x, 4.2.x, 4.3.x

SOLUTION: Apply the fixes listed below.

THREAT: Remote users can gain system access.

===============================================================================
DETAILED INFORMATION

I. Description

The "routed" daemon accepts packets that cause arbitrary system files to be
created and/or modified. Only machines running the routed daemon are
vulnerable.

An exploit script has been made publicly available.

II. Impact

Remote users can modify system files which can allow remote access to the
system.

III. Solutions

A. How to alleviate the problem

A temporary fix is available via anonymous ftp from:

ftp://testcase.software.ibm.com/aix/fromibm/security.routed.tar.Z

Filename sum md5
=================================================================
routed 59682 40 1aae6cf116ae84f8bee91b96736b7d23

Use the following steps (as root) to install the temporary fix:

1. Uncompress and extract the fix:

# uncompress < security.routed.tar.Z | tar xf -

2. Execute the following commands to replace the vulnerable routed
binary:

# cp /usr/sbin/routed /usr/sbin/routed.orig
# chmod -x /usr/sbin/routed.orig
# cp routed/routed /usr/sbin/routed
# chmod 554 /usr/sbin/routed

NOTE: This temporary fix has not been fully regression tested.

B. Official fix

IBM is currently working on the following APARs but they are not yet
available.

AIX 4.3.x: IX73951
AIX 4.2.x: IX73949
AIX 4.1.x: IX73948
AIX 3.2.x: upgrade to version 4

IV. Obtaining Fixes

IBM AIX APARs may be ordered using Electronic Fix Distribution (via the FixDist
program), or from the IBM Support Center. For more information on FixDist, and
to obtain fixes via the Internet, please reference

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

or send electronic mail to "aixserv@austin.ibm.com" with the word "FixDist" in
the "Subject:" line.

V. Acknowledgements

Thanks to www.rootshell.com for bringing this problem to our attention.

VI. Contact Information

Comments regarding the content of this announcement can be directed to the IBM
Support Center or to:

security-alert@austin.ibm.com

To request the PGP public key that can be used to encrypt new AIX security
vulnerabilities, send email to security-alert@austin.ibm.com with a subject
of "get key".

If you would like to subscribe to the AIX security newsletter, send a note to
aixserv@austin.ibm.com with a subject of "subscribe Security". To cancel your
subscription, use a subject of "unsubscribe Security". To see a list of other
available subscriptions, use a subject of "help".

IBM and AIX are a registered trademark of International Business Machines
Corporation. All other trademarks are property of their respective holders.

===============================================================================

IBM's Internet Emergency Response Service (IBM-ERS) is a subscription-based
Internet security response service that includes computer security incident
response and management, regular electronic verification of your Internet
gateway(s), and security vulnerability alerts similar to this one that are
tailored to your specific computing environment. By acting as an extension
of your own internal security staff, IBM-ERS's team of Internet security
experts helps you quickly detect and respond to attacks and exposures across
your Internet connection(s).

As a part of IBM's Business Recovery Services organization, the IBM Internet
Emergency Response Service is a component of IBM's SecureWay(tm) line of
security products and services. From hardware to software to consulting,
SecureWay solutions can give you the assurance and expertise you need to
protect your valuable business resources. To find out more about the IBM
Internet Emergency Response Service, send an electronic mail message to
ers-sales@vnet.ibm.com, or call 1-800-742-2493 (Prompt 4).

IBM-ERS maintains a site on the World Wide Web at http://www.ers.ibm.com/.
Visit the site for information about the service, copies of security alerts,
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IBM-ERS uses Pretty Good Privacy* (PGP*) as the digital signature mechanism for
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"Pretty Good Privacy" and "PGP" are trademarks of Philip Zimmermann.

IBM-ERS is a Member Team of the Forum of Incident Response and Security Teams
(FIRST), a global organization established to foster cooperation and response
coordination among computer security teams worldwide.

Copyright 1998 International Business Machines Corporation.

The information in this document is provided as a service to customers of
the IBM Emergency Response Service. Neither International Business Machines
Corporation, Integrated Systems Solutions Corporation, nor any of their
employees, makes any warranty, express or implied, or assumes any legal
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The material in this security alert may be reproduced and distributed,
without permission, in whole or in part, by other security incident response
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