DST2K0004b: Authentication issue in WebShield SMTP v4.5.44 Manage ment Tool

[securityteam () DELPHISPLC COM (Security Team)]

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                                 Delphis Consulting Plc
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                                      Security Team Advisories
                                    [08/05/2000]

                             securityteam () delphisplc com
        
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Adv     :       DST2K0004b
Title   :       Authentication issue in WebShield SMTP v4.5.44 Management
Tool
Author  :       DCIST (securityteam () delphisplc com)
O/S     :       Microsoft Windows NT v4.0 Server (SP6)
Product :       NAI WebShield SMTP v4.0.5
Date    :       08/05/2000 (Updated 15/05/2000)

I.   Description

II. Solution

III.  Disclaimer
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I. Description
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Delphis Consulting Internet Security Team (DCIST) discovered the following
vuln-
erability in the NAI Management Agent for WebShield SMTP under Windows NT.

Connecting to a machine which runs the management agent on port 9999 may
allow
an attacker to obtain read and write access to the configuration of a
WebShield
SMTP server. This appears to happen, even if the the MailCfg service is set
to
only allow configuration to take place from "localhost" in some
configurations.

The configuration data appears written to the registry before the service
suffers from lack of bounds checking. This information written to the
registry
can be used to prevent the WebShield service from being started.

Update: 15/05/2000

The configuration agent uses hostname for authentication, if the server upon
which the management agent is running is unable to resolve a hostname to the
IP address it will allow access by default.

II. Solution
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Vendor Contacted: 8-May-2000

Currently there is no vendor patch available but the following are
preventative
measures Delphis Consulting Internet Security Team would advise users
running
this service to implement.

o Don't allow the service to run as SYSTEM but as a restricted user account.
o Access list port 9999 on the local router or firewall to restrict access
to only required machines.
o Stop the management service.

III. Disclaimer
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THE INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THIS ADVISORY IS BELIEVED TO BE ACCURATE AT
THE TIME OF PRINTING, BUT NO REPRESENTATION OR WARRANTY IS GIVEN, EXPRESS OR
IMPLIED, AS TO ITS ACCURACY OR COMPLETENESS.  NEITHER THE AUTHOR NOR THE
PUBLISHER ACCEPTS ANY LIABILITY WHATSOEVER FOR ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT OR
CONSEQUENTIAL LOSS OR DAMAGE ARISING IN ANY WAY FROM ANY USE OF, OR RELIANCE
PLACED ON, THIS INFORMATION FOR ANY PURPOSE.
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