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ESB-2001.062 -- FreeBSD-SA-01:20.mars_nwe -- mars_nwe contains potential remote root compromise

Date: 16 February 2001

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===========================================================================
             AUSCERT External Security Bulletin Redistribution

                 ESB-2001.062 -- FreeBSD-SA-01:20.mars_nwe
            mars_nwe contains potential remote root compromise
                             16 February 2001

===========================================================================

        AusCERT Security Bulletin Summary
        ---------------------------------

Product:                mars_nwe
Vendor:                 FreeBSD Ports Collection
Operating System:       FreeBSD
                        BSD
                        Linux
Impact:                 Root Compromise
Access Required:        Remote

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=============================================================================
FreeBSD-SA-01:20                                           Security Advisory
                                                                FreeBSD, Inc.

Topic:          mars_nwe contains potential remote root compromise

Category:       ports
Module:         mars_nwe
Announced:      2001-02-07
Credits:        Przemyslaw Frasunek <venglin@FREEBSD.LUBLIN.PL>
Affects:        Ports collection prior to the correction date.
Corrected:      2001-01-30
Vendor status:  Vendor notified
FreeBSD only:   NO

I.   Background

mars_nwe is a Novell Netware server emulator.

II.  Problem Description

The mars_nwe port, versions prior to 0.99.b19_1, contains a remote
format string vulerability.  Because of this vulnerability, a
malicious remote user sending specially-crafted packets may be able to
execute arbitrary code on the local system, potentially gaining root
access.

The mars_nwe port is not installed by default, nor is it "part of
FreeBSD" as such: it is part of the FreeBSD ports collection, which
contains over 4500 third-party applications in a ready-to-install
format.  The ports collections shipped with FreeBSD 3.5.1 and 4.2
contain this problem since it was discovered after the releases.

FreeBSD makes no claim about the security of these third-party
applications, although an effort is underway to provide a security
audit of the most security-critical ports.

III. Impact

Malicious remote users may cause arbitrary code to be executed
on the local system, potentially gaining root access.

If you have not chosen to install the mars_nwe port/package, then
your system is not vulnerable to this problem.

IV.  Workaround

Deinstall the mars_nwe port/package, if you have installed it.

V.   Solution

One of the following:

1) Upgrade your entire ports collection and rebuild the mars_nwe port.

2) Deinstall the old package and install a new package dated after the
correction date, obtained from:

[i386]
ftp://ftp.FreeBSD.org/pub/FreeBSD/ports/i386/packages-3-stable/net/mars_nwe-0.99.b19_1.tgz
ftp://ftp.FreeBSD.org/pub/FreeBSD/ports/i386/packages-4-stable/net/mars_nwe-0.99.b19_1.tgz
ftp://ftp.FreeBSD.org/pub/FreeBSD/ports/alpha/packages-4-stable/net/mars_nwe-0.99.b19_1.tgz
ftp://ftp.FreeBSD.org/pub/FreeBSD/ports/i386/packages-5-current/net/mars_nwe-0.99.b19_1.tgz
ftp://ftp.FreeBSD.org/pub/FreeBSD/ports/alpha/packages-5-current/net/mars_nwe-0.99.b19_1.tgz

[alpha]
Packages are not automatically generated for the alpha architecture at
this time due to lack of build resources.

3) download a new port skeleton for the mars_nwe port from:

http://www.freebsd.org/ports/

and use it to rebuild the port.

4) Use the portcheckout utility to automate option (3) above. The
portcheckout port is available in /usr/ports/devel/portcheckout or the
package can be obtained from:

ftp://ftp.FreeBSD.org/pub/FreeBSD/ports/i386/packages-3-stable/devel/portcheckout-2.0.tgz
ftp://ftp.FreeBSD.org/pub/FreeBSD/ports/i386/packages-4-stable/devel/portcheckout-2.0.tgz
ftp://ftp.FreeBSD.org/pub/FreeBSD/ports/alpha/packages-4-stable/devel/portcheckout-2.0.tgz
ftp://ftp.FreeBSD.org/pub/FreeBSD/ports/i386/packages-5-current/devel/portcheckout-2.0.tgz
ftp://ftp.FreeBSD.org/pub/FreeBSD/ports/alpha/packages-5-current/devel/portcheckout-2.0.tgz


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This security bulletin is provided as a service to AusCERT's members.  As
AusCERT did not write the document quoted above, AusCERT has had no control
over its content.  The decision to use any or all of this information is
the responsibility of each user or organisation, and should be done so in
accordance with site policies and procedures.

NOTE: This is only the original release of the security bulletin.  It may
not be updated when updates to the original are made.  If downloading at
a later date, it is recommended that the bulletin is retrieved directly
from the original authors to ensure that the information is still current.

Contact information for the authors of the original document is included
in the Security Bulletin above.  If you have any questions or need further
information, please contact them directly.

Previous advisories and external security bulletins can be retrieved from:

	http://www.auscert.org.au/Information/advisories.html

If you believe that your system has been compromised, contact AusCERT or
your representative in FIRST (Forum of Incident Response and Security
Teams).

Internet Email: auscert@auscert.org.au
Facsimile:	(07) 3365 7031
Telephone:	(07) 3365 4417 (International: +61 7 3365 4417)
		AusCERT personnel answer during Queensland business hours
		which are GMT+10:00 (AEST).
		On call after hours for emergencies.


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