HP's Security Bulletins Digest (fwd)

[justin () EE BYU EDU (Justin Tripp)]

---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Sat, 1 Jan 2000 05:31:36 -0800 (PST)
From: HP Electronic Support Center <support_feedback () us-support external hp com>
To: security_info () us-support external hp com
Subject: Security Bulletins Digest

                        HP Support Information Digests

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Digest Name:  Daily Security Bulletins Digest
    Created:  Sat Jan  1  3:00:03 PST 2000

Table of Contents:

Document ID      Title
---------------  -----------
HPSBUX0001-108   Security Vulnerability in Aserver

The documents are listed below.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Document ID:  HPSBUX0001-108
Date Loaded:  19991231
      Title:  Security Vulnerability in Aserver

-------------------------------------------------------------------------
    HEWLETT-PACKARD COMPANY SECURITY ADVISORY: #00108, 01 Jan 2000
-------------------------------------------------------------------------

The information in the following Security Advisory should be acted upon
as soon as possible.  Hewlett-Packard Company will not be liable for any
consequences to any customer resulting from customer's failure to fully
implement instructions in this Security Advisory as soon as possible.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------
PROBLEM:  /opt/audio/bin/Aserver can be used to gain root access.

PLATFORM: HP9000 Series 7/800 running HP-UX releases 10.X and 11.X

DAMAGE:   Root access is possible.

SOLUTION: Until patches are available disable the Aserver (see below).

AVAILABILITY:  This advisory will be updated when patches are available.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------
I.
   A. Background
      A procedure to use /opt/audio/bin/Aserver to gain root access
      has been made public.

   B. Recommended solution
      Until a patch is available, the only two temporary fixes currently
      available are to disable /opt/audio/bin/Aserver by removing the
      file, or to remove execute permissions as follows.

      As root remove functionality with:

            chmod 400 /opt/audio/bin/Aserver

      As an alternative, if it is absolutely necessary to run the Aserver,
      it can be run - yet the system will be vulnerable while the Aserver
      is starting.
      Again as root:

            chmod 6555 /opt/audio/bin/Aserver

            [***Warning - /opt/audio/bin/Aserver is now vulnerable.***]

            /opt/audio/bin/Aserver -f

            [Wait for the parent and child processes to start.]

            chmod 400 /opt/audio/bin/Aserver

            [/opt/audio/bin/Aserver is now safe.]

    C. To subscribe to automatically receive future NEW HP Security
       Bulletins from the HP IT Resource Center via electronic mail,
       do the following:

       Use your browser to get to the HP IT Resource Center page at:

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      Under the Maintenance and Support Menu (Electronic Support Center):
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      ~ftp/export/patches/hp-ux_patch_matrix

    D. To report new security vulnerabilities, send email to

       security-alert () hp com

       Please encrypt any exploit information using the security-alert
       PGP key, available from your local key server, or by sending a
       message with a -subject- (not body) of 'get key' (no quotes) to
       security-alert () hp com.

      Permission is granted for copying and circulating this advisory to
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      Any other use of this information is prohibited. HP is not liable
      for any misuse of this information by any third party.
________________________________________________________________________
-----End of Document ID:  HPSBUX0001-108--------------------------------------

------------------------------------------------------------------------
Justin Leonard Tripp                                   justin () ee byu edu
Configurable Computing Laboratory Research Assistant      CB 461 x8-7206
Electrical and Computer Engineering Department  Brigham Young University