Full Disclosure mailing list archives

Ascend / Lucent Router gives root?


From: nathan aguirre <nabiy () freeshell org>
Date: Sun, 21 Sep 2003 10:39:38 +0000

There appears to be a design flaw in an Ascend / Lucent MAX TNT Router that allows root access.  I have sent this to 
lucent, they have forwarded it to the 'approriate software team'.  This bug does not seem to be a misconfiguration as 
the terminal server often works correctly.  It would be interesting to see if this also works agains other version of 
the IOS.  

Here is an example of this vulnerability that can be found online:
http://www.tek-tips.com/gviewthread.cfm/lev2/8/lev3/58/pid/547/qid/626101

[in TERMINAL-SERVER]
enabled = yes
security-mode = full
modem-configuration = { will-v42 33600-max-baud -13-db-mdm-trn-level no
-18-db-+
**********************************************************************
here a connection is made and the Terminal Server presents a Login Prompt
**********************************************************************
terminal-mode-configuration = { no yes "" "***  Pulaski Networks  ***"
"Login: +
immediate-mode-options = { none no "" 0 }
menu-mode-options = { no no no "" "" telnet 0 "" "" "" telnet 0 "" ""
""
telnet+
ppp-mode-configuration = { yes 5 no session-ppp }
slip-mode-configuration = { no no basic-slip no }
dialout-configuration = { no no 5000 "" none }

And something changed but still no luck.  This time wvdial shows :
***********************************************************************
here a connection made to the same Terminal Server but no Login Prompt is presented
***********************************************************************
Aug  7 12:04:22 fw wvdial[4441]: Sending: fmota
Aug  7 12:04:23 fw wvdial[4441]: fmota
Aug  7 12:04:23 fw wvdial[4441]: Password:
Aug  7 12:04:23 fw wvdial[4441]: Looks like a password prompt.
Aug  7 12:04:23 fw wvdial[4441]: Sending: (password)
************************************************************************
instead of a login prompt the root prompt is given - root access is gained.
************************************************************************
Aug  7 12:04:24 fw wvdial[4441]: ascend%
************************************************************************
this problem has been overlooked because wvdial and other programs do not report this, instead wvdial continues to try 
with ppp negotion, but fails:
**************************************************************************
Aug  7 12:04:24 fw wvdial[4441]: Hmm... a prompt.  Sending "ppp".
Aug  7 12:04:25 fw wvdial[4441]: ppp
Aug  7 12:04:25 fw wvdial[4441]: Requested Service Not Authorized 
**************************************************************************
Access to the root prompt can easily be obtained through the use of a terminal client, such as minicom or 
Hyperterminal.  Often, the router will correctly present a login prompt.  When this occurs one only needs to disconnect 
quickly and redial to gain root.  This has been tested against an Ascend / Lucent MAX TNT router running IOS version 
8.0.1.

other online examples that could be related to this vulnerability:
https://lists.csociety.org/pipermail/plug/2000-October/003328.html
http://lists.debian.org/debian-user/2000/debian-user-200010/msg02081.html

nathan aguirre
nabiy () freeshell org

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