SGI Security Advisory 19970503-01-PX - runpriv Security Issue

SGI Security Coordinator (agent99@BOYTOY.CSD.SGI.COM)
Wed, 14 May 1997 11:47:08 -0700

RELEASE RESTRICTIONS - NONE - FOR PUBLIC RELEASE

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______________________________________________________________________________
Silicon Graphics Inc. Security Advisory

Title: Program runpriv Security Issue
Number: 19970503-01-PX
Date: May 14, 1997
______________________________________________________________________________

Silicon Graphics provides this information freely to the SGI user community
for its consideration, interpretation, implementation and use. Silicon
Graphics recommends that this information be acted upon as soon as possible.

Silicon Graphics provides the information in this Security Advisory on
an "AS-IS" basis only, and disclaims all warranties with respect thereto,
express, implied or otherwise, including, without limitation, any warranty
of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose. In no event shall
SGI be liable for any loss of profits, loss of business, loss of data or
for any indirect, special, exemplary, incidental or consequential damages
of any kind arising from your use of, failure to use or improper use of
any of the instructions or information in this Security Advisory.
______________________________________________________________________________

- ------------------
- --- Background ---
- ------------------

The /usr/sysadm/bin/runpriv program is used by the System Desktop
to allow unprivileged users to run selected privileged commands.
Silicon Graphics has been informed of a potential security
vulnerability involving this program.

Silicon Graphics Inc. has investigated the issue and recommends the
following steps for neutralizing the exposure. It is HIGHLY RECOMMENDED
that these measures be implemented on ALL SGI systems running IRIX versions
6.3 and 6.4. This issue will be corrected in future releases of IRIX.

- --------------
- --- Impact ---
- --------------

The /usr/sysadm/bin/runpriv program is part of the Indigo Magic System
Administration subsystem of IRIX 6.3 and 6.4. Although other IRIX
versions will have similar Desktop System Administration subsystems,
only the IRIX 6.3 and 6.4 subsystems have the runpriv program. On
IRIX 6.3 and 6.4, the Indigo Magic System Administration subsystem
is installed by default.

A potential security vulnerability has been found that can result in
root privileges being obtained.

A local account is required in order to exploit this vulnerability both
locally and remotely.

Publicity of this vulnerability has been limited and has afforded
Silicon Graphics Inc. the opportunity to fully investigate this issue
and provide the following information and solutions.

- ---------------------
- --- Temporary Fix ---
- ---------------------

Although patches are available for this issue, it is realized that
there may be situations where installing the patches immediately many
not be possible.

The steps below can be used to remove the vulnerability by turning
off the privileges capability.

***************
*** WARNING ***
***************

Turning off the privileges capability will disable unprivileged
users using the visual administration tools. Only the root user
will be able to run these programs.

1) Become the root user on the system.

% /bin/su -
Password:
#

2) Turn off the privileges capability.

# chkconfig privileges off

3) Return to previous level.

# exit
$

- ----------------
- --- Solution ---
- ----------------

**** IRIX 3.x and 4.x ****

Silicon Graphics Inc, no longer supports the IRIX 3.x and 4.x operating
systems and therefore has no patches to provide.

**** IRIX 5.x, 6.0, 6.0.1, 6.1, and 6.2 ****

These versions of IRIX do not have the /usr/sysadm/bin/runpriv program
and are therefore not vulnerable. No further action is required for
these versions.

**** IRIX 6.3 ****

For the IRIX operating system version 6.3 an inst-able patch has been
generated and made available via anonymous FTP and your service/support
provider. The patch is number 2077 and will install on IRIX 6.3 only.

The SGI anonymous FTP site is sgigate.sgi.com (204.94.209.1) or its
mirror, ftp.sgi.com. Patch 2077 can be found in the following
directories on the FTP server:

~ftp/Security

or

~ftp/Patches/6.3

##### Checksums ####

The actual patch will be a tar file containing the following files:

Filename: README.patch.2077
Algorithm #1 (sum -r): 34622 8 README.patch.2077
Algorithm #2 (sum): 22197 8 README.patch.2077
MD5 checksum: B3DFE9BAE87AFF4153A1CF3BFAD7B522

Filename: patchSG0002077
Algorithm #1 (sum -r): 53668 1 patchSG0002077
Algorithm #2 (sum): 32550 1 patchSG0002077
MD5 checksum: EC35AE80FB77125305EA8BE98CC15C98

Filename: patchSG0002077.idb
Algorithm #1 (sum -r): 01148 1 patchSG0002077.idb
Algorithm #2 (sum): 40537 1 patchSG0002077.idb
MD5 checksum: A23D679D06167F20DE125486592BABC9

Filename: patchSG0002077.sysadmdesktop_sw
Algorithm #1 (sum -r): 10875 15 patchSG0002077.sysadmdesktop_sw
Algorithm #2 (sum): 46398 15 patchSG0002077.sysadmdesktop_sw
MD5 checksum: 8B03D59C0E3A9748B90FED6C5994A739

**** IRIX 6.4 ****

For the IRIX operating system version 6.4 an inst-able patch has been
generated and made available via anonymous FTP and your service/support
provider. The patch is number 2078 and will install on IRIX 6.4 only.

The SGI anonymous FTP site is sgigate.sgi.com (204.94.209.1) or its
mirror, ftp.sgi.com. Patch 2078 can be found in the following
directories on the FTP server:

~ftp/Security

or

~ftp/Patches/6.4

##### Checksums ####

The actual patch will be a tar file containing the following files:

Filename: README.patch.2078
Algorithm #1 (sum -r): 24207 8 README.patch.2078
Algorithm #2 (sum): 24278 8 README.patch.2078
MD5 checksum: 32AD0F5DB530D6E31315C31C76B45DD3

Filename: patchSG0002078
Algorithm #1 (sum -r): 57740 1 patchSG0002078
Algorithm #2 (sum): 33268 1 patchSG0002078
MD5 checksum: C9AEEF6551A7280B3A7695B63B40B37C

Filename: patchSG0002078.idb
Algorithm #1 (sum -r): 49797 1 patchSG0002078.idb
Algorithm #2 (sum): 40655 1 patchSG0002078.idb
MD5 checksum: 18FE323A8FB7DAC71DD623B5DDA2B6E7

Filename: patchSG0002078.sysadmdesktop_sw
Algorithm #1 (sum -r): 06501 15 patchSG0002078.sysadmdesktop_sw
Algorithm #2 (sum): 28499 15 patchSG0002078.sysadmdesktop_sw
MD5 checksum: 3020CBAE24B094CECB6C6C5FD73D0E97

- -----------------------
- --- Acknowledgments ---
- -----------------------

Silicon Graphics wishes to thank Joe Bester and Quay Ly of Harvey Mudd
College for bringing this issue to Silicon Graphics attention, and then
cooperating with Silicon Graphics during the generation of patches.

- -----------------------------------------
- --- SGI Security Information/Contacts ---
- -----------------------------------------

If there are questions about this document, email can be sent to
cse-security-alert@sgi.com.

------oOo------

Silicon Graphics provides security information and patches for
use by the entire SGI community. This information is freely
available to any person needing the information and is available
via anonymous FTP and the Web.

The primary SGI anonymous FTP site for security information and patches
is sgigate.sgi.com (204.94.209.1). Security information and patches
are located under the directories ~ftp/security and ~ftp/patches,
respectively. The Silicon Graphics Security Headquarters Web page is
accessible at the URL http://www.sgi.com/Support/Secur/security.html.

For issues with the patches on the FTP sites, email can be sent to
cse-security-alert@sgi.com.

For assistance obtaining or working with security patches, please
contact your SGI support provider.

------oOo------

Silicon Graphics provides a free security mailing list service
called wiretap and encourages interested parties to self-subscribe
to receive (via email) all SGI Security Advisories when they are
released. Subscribing to the mailing list can be done via the Web
(http://www.sgi.com/Support/Secur/wiretap.html) or by sending email
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% mail wiretap-request@sgi.com
subscribe wiretap <YourEmailAddress>
end
^d

In the example above, <YourEmailAddress> is the email address that you
wish the mailing list information sent to. The word end must be on a
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finished composing the mail message.

------oOo------

Silicon Graphics provides a comprehensive customer World Wide Web site.
This site is located at http://www.sgi.com/Support/Secur/security.html.

------oOo------

For reporting *NEW* SGI security issues, email can be sent to
security-alert@sgi.com or contact your SGI support provider. A
support contract is not required for submitting a security report.

______________________________________________________________________________
This information is provided freely to all interested parties and may
be redistributed provided that it is not altered in any way, Silicon
Graphics is appropriately credited and the document retains and
includes its valid PGP signature.

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