************************************************************************** Security Bulletin 9515 DISA Defense Communications System April 13, 1995 Published by: DDN Security Coordination Center (SCC@NIC.DDN.MIL) 1-(800) 365-3642 DEFENSE DATA NETWORK SECURITY BULLETIN The DDN SECURITY BULLETIN is distributed by the DDN SCC (Security Coordination Center) under DISA contract as a means of communicating information on network and host security exposures, fixes, and concerns to security and management personnel at DDN facilities. Back issues may be obtained via FTP (or Kermit) from NIC.DDN.MIL [192.112.36.5] using login="anonymous" and password="guest". The bulletin pathname is scc/ddn-security-yynn (where "yy" is the year the bulletin is issued and "nn" is a bulletin number, e.g. scc/ddn-security-9428). ************************************************************************** + - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - + ! ! ! The following important advisory was issued by the Automated ! ! Systems Security Incident Support Team (ASSIST) and is being ! ! relayed unedited via the Defense Information Systems Agency's ! ! Security Coordination Center distribution system as a means ! ! of providing DDN subscribers with useful security information. ! ! ! + - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - + ********************************************************************** _______ A S S I S T | / Automated Systems Security Incident Support Team | / Integritas Duty phone: +1 800 357 4231 (DSN 289 7974) | < et 24 hour pager: +1 800 791-4857 | \ Celeritas BBS: +1 703 756 7993 (DSN 289 7993) | \ e-mail: ASSIST@ASSIST.MIL ------- Anonymous FTP: ASSIST.MIL (IP 199.211.123.11) <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Automated Systems Security Incident Support Team _____ ___ ___ _____ ___ _____ | / /\ / \ / \ | / \ | | / Integritas / \ \___ \___ | \___ | | < et /____\ \ \ | \ | | \ Celeritas / \ \___/ \___/ __|__ \___/ | |_____\ <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Bulletin 95-12 Release date: 11 April, 1995, 2:00 PM EDT (GMT -4) SUBJECT: Vulnerability in SATAN. SUMMARY: A vulnerability is introduced into systems running SATAN version 1.0. This vulnerability affects all systems that support the use of SATAN with the HTML interface. For a complete overview of SATAN, see ASSIST bulletin 95-11. BACKGROUND: In SATAN version 1.0, it is possible for unauthorized users to gain root access to systems during the time SATAN is running from the root account. This vulnerability exploits a weakness in the HTML server started by SATAN on a random, high-numbered TCP port. Additional details on this vulnerability will be found in the SATAN documentation provided with SATAN version 1.1 when released. IMPACT: Unauthorized users can execute programs as root. Access to an account on the system may not be necessary to do this. RECOMMENDED SOLUTION: It is expected that SATAN version 1.1 will fix this problem. The following precautions will prevent the introduction of this vulnerability in systems running SATAN 1.0, and are also recommended when running future releases of SATAN. NOTE: Sites can completely avoid this vulnerability by not running SATAN in any form. A. Install all relevant security patches for the system on which SATAN will be run. B. Execute SATAN only from the console of the system on which it is installed (e.g., do not run SATAN from an X terminal, from a diskless workstation, or from a remote host). C. Ensure that the SATAN directory tree is not NFS-mounted from a remote system. D. Ensure that the SATAN directory tree cannot be read by users other than root. Note that SATAN 1.1 is expected to check systems for this SATAN 1.0 vulnerability as part of its vulnerability scanning of other systems. <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> ASSIST is an element of the Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA), Center for Information Systems Security (CISS), that provides service to the entire DoD community. Constituents of the DoD with questions about ASSIST or computer security security issues, can contact ASSIST using one of the methods listed below. Non-DoD organizations/institutions, contact the Forum of Incident Response and Security Teams (FIRST) (FIRST) representative. To obtain a list of FIRST member organizations and their constituencies send an email to docserver@first.org with an empty "subject" line and a message body containing the line "send first-contacts". ASSIST Information Resources: To be included in the distribution list for the ASSIST bulletins, send your Milnet (Internet) e-mail address to assist-request@assist.mil. Back issues of ASSIST bulletins, and other security related information, are available from the ASSIST BBS at 703-756-7993/1154 DSN 289-7993/1154, and through anonymous FTP from assist.mil (IP address 199.211.123.11). Note: assist.mil will only accept anonymous FTP connections from Milnet addresses that are registered with the NIC or DNS. ASSIST Contact Information: PHONE: 800-357-4231 (or 703-756-7974 DSN 289), duty hours are 06:00 to 22:30 EDT (GMT -4) Monday through Friday. During off duty hours, weekends and holidays, ASSIST can be reached via pager at 800-791- 4857. The page will be answered within 30 minutes, however if a quicker response is required, prefix the phone number with "999". ELECTRONIC MAIL: Send to assist@assist.mil. ASSIST BBS: Leave a message for the "sysop". ASSIST uses Pretty Good Privacy (PGP) 2.6.2 as the digital signature mechanism for bulletins. PGP 2.6.2 incorporates the RSAREF(tm) Cryptographic Toolkit under license from RSA Data Security, Inc. A copy of that license is available via anonymous FTP from net-dist.mit.edu (IP 18.72.0.3) in the file /pub/PGP/rsalicen.txt. In accordance with the terms of that license, PGP 2.6.2 may be used for non-commercial purposes only. Instructions for downloading the PGP 2.6.2 software can also be obtained from net-dist.mit.edu in the pub/PGP/README file. PGP 2.6.2 and RSAREF may be subject to the export control laws of the United States of America as implemented by the United States Department of State Office of Defense Trade Controls. The PGP signature information will be attached to the end of ASSIST bulletins. Reference herein to any specific commercial product, process, or service by trade name, trademark manufacturer, or otherwise, does not constitute or imply its endorsement, recommendation, or favoring by ASSIST. The views and opinions of authors expressed herein shall not be used for advertising or product endorsement purposes. **************************************************************************** * * * The point of contact for MILNET security-related incidents is the * * Security Coordination Center (SCC). * * * * E-mail address: SCC@NIC.DDN.MIL * * * * Telephone: 1-(800)-365-3642 * * * * NIC Help Desk personnel are available from 7:00 a.m.-7:00 p.m. EST, * * Monday through Friday except on federal holidays. * * * **************************************************************************** PLEASE NOTE: Some users outside of the DOD computing communities may receive DDN Security bulletins. If you are not part of the DOD community, please contact your agency's incident response team to report incidents. Your agency's team will coordinate with DOD. The Forum of Incident Response and Security Teams (FIRST) is a world-wide organization. A list of FIRST member organizations and their constituencies can be obtained by sending email to docserver@first.org with an empty subject line and a message body containing the line: send first-contacts. This document was prepared as an service to the DOD community. Neither the United States Government nor any of their employees, makes any warranty, expressed or implied, or assumes any legal liability or responsibility for the accuracy, completeness, or usefulness of any information, product, or process disclosed, or represents that its use would not infringe privately owned rights. Reference herein to any specific commercial products, process, or service by trade name, trademark manufacturer, or otherwise, does not necessarily constitute or imply its endorsement, recommendation, or favoring by the United States Government. The opinions of the authors expressed herein do not necessarily state or reflect those of the United States Government, and shall not be used for advertising or product endorsement purposes.