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===========================================================================
              AUSCERT External Security Bulletin Redistribution
                                      
                                      
                 ESB-98.037 -- Sun Security Bulletin #00166
                          Vulnerability in rpc.cmsd
                              12 March 1998

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

Sun Microsystems, Inc. has released the following advisory concerning a
vulnerability in the rpc.cmsd program under various versions of SunOS.
This vulnerability may allow attackers to overwrite arbitrary files and
gain root access.

The following security bulletin is provided as a service to AUSCERT's
members.  As AUSCERT did not write this document, AUSCERT has had no
control over its content.  As such, 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 will
not be updated when the original bulletin is.  If downloading at a later
date, it is recommended that the bulletin is retrieved from the original
authors to ensure that the information is still current.

Contact information for Sun is included in the Security Bulletin
below.  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
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.
Facsimile:      (07) 3365 7031


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________________________________________________________________________________
 		   Sun Microsystems, Inc. Security Bulletin
 		
Bulletin Number:	#00166
Date: 			March 11, 1998
Cross-Ref:		
Title:			rpc.cmsd
________________________________________________________________________________

The information contained in this Security Bulletin is provided "AS IS." 
Sun makes no warranties of any kind whatsoever with respect to the information 
contained in this Security Bulletin. ALL EXPRESS OR IMPLIED CONDITIONS, 
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES, INCLUDING ANY WARRANTY OF NON-INFRINGEMENT OR 
IMPLIED WARRANTY OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, ARE 
HEREBY DISCLAIMED AND EXCLUDED TO THE EXTENT ALLOWED BY APPLICABLE LAW.

IN NO EVENT WILL SUN MICROSYSTEMS, INC. BE LIABLE FOR ANY LOST REVENUE, 
PROFIT OR DATA, OR FOR DIRECT, SPECIAL, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, INCIDENTAL 
OR PUNITIVE DAMAGES HOWEVER CAUSED AND REGARDLESS OF ANY THEORY OF LIABILITY 
ARISING OUT OF THE USE OF OR INABILITY TO USE THE INFORMATION CONTAINED IN 
THIS SECURITY BULLETIN, EVEN IF SUN MICROSYSTEMS, INC. HAS BEEN ADVISED OF 
THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES.

If any of the above provisions are held to be in violation of applicable law, 
void, or unenforceable in any jurisdiction, then such provisions are waived 
to the extent necessary for this disclaimer to be otherwise enforceable in 
such jurisdiction.
________________________________________________________________________________

1.  Bulletins Topics

    Sun announces the release of patches for Solaris(tm) 2.5.1, 2.5, 2.4, 
    2.3 (SunOS(tm) 5.5.1, 5.5, 5.4, 5.3), SunOS 4.1.4, and 4.1.3_U1 which 
    relate to a vulnerability in rpc.cmsd.

    Sun recommends that you install the patches listed in section 4 
    immediately on systems running SunOS 5.5.1, 5.5, 5.4, 5.3, 4.1.4, and 
    4.1.3_U1 with Openwindows or SunOS 5.5.1, 5.5, and 5.4 with the
    Common Desktop Environment (CDE).

2.  Who is Affected
	
    Vulnerable:  SunOS 5.5.1, 5.5.1_x86, 5.5, 5.5_x86, 5.4, 5.4_x86, 5.3, 
                 4.1.4, and 4.1.3_U1 running Openwindows
                 
                 SunOS 5.5.1, 5.5.1_x86, 5.5, 5.5_x86, 5.4, and 5.4_x86 
                 running CDE
                 
    Not vulnerable: All other supported versions of SunOS.
    
3.  Understanding the Vulnerability

    The rpc.cmsd is a small database manager for appointment and 
    resource-scheduling data. Its primary client is Calendar Manager 
    in Openwindows, and Calendar in CDE. This vulnerability, if exploited, 
    allows attackers to overwrite arbitrary files and gain root access.
    
4.  List of Patches

    The following patches are available in relation to the above problem.

    OpenWindows:
     	
    SunOS		Patch ID	
    _____		_________
 
    SunOS 5.5.1		104976-03		
    SunOS 5.5.1_x86	105124-02	
    SunOS 5.5		103251-07	
    SunOS 5.5_x86	103273-04	
    SunOS 5.4		102030-09	
    SunOS 5.4_x86	102031-07	
    SunOS 5.3		101513-12
    SunOS 4.1.4		100523-24
    SunOS 4.1.3_U1	100523-24
    
    CDE:
    
    CDE version		Patch ID
    ___________		________
    
    1.02		103670-04 
    1.02_x86		103717-04 
    1.01		103671-04  
    1.01_x86		103718-04

_______________________________________________________________________________
Sun acknowledges with thanks Marko Laakso (University of Oulu) for 
his assistance in this matter.
_______________________________________________________________________________
APPENDICES

A.  Patches listed in this bulletin are available to all Sun customers via 
    World Wide Web at:
    
    	<URL:http://sunsolve.sun.com/sunsolve/pubpatches/patches.html>

B.  Checksums for the patches listed in this bulletin are available via 
    World Wide Web at:

    	<URL:http://sunsolve.sun.com/sunsolve/pubpatches/patches.html>

C.  Sun security bulletins are available via World Wide Web at:

	<URL:http://sunsolve.sun.com/sunsolve/secbulletins>
	
D.  Sun Security Coordination Team's PGP key is available via World Wide Web 
    at:

	<URL:http://sunsolve.sun.com/sunsolve/secbulletins/SunSCkey.txt>
		    	    	    
E.  To report or inquire about a security problem with Sun software, contact 
    one or more of the following:
  
        - Your local Sun answer centers
        - Your representative computer security response team, such as CERT 
        - Sun Security Coordination Team. Send email to:
	 
     		security-alert@sun.com

F.  To receive information or subscribe to our CWS (Customer Warning System) 
    mailing list, send email to:
    
    		security-alert@sun.com
   
    with a subject line (not body) containing one of the following commands:

        Command         Information Returned/Action Taken
        _______         _________________________________

        help            An explanation of how to get information
        
        key             Sun Security Coordination Team's PGP key
	
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        query [topic]   The email is treated as an inquiry and is forwarded to 
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        report [topic]  The email is treated as a security report and is
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                        encrypt sensitive mail using Sun Security Coordination
                        Team's PGP key

        send topic      A short status summary or bulletin. For example, to 
                        retrieve a Security Bulletin #00138, supply the 
                        following in the subject line (not body):
        		
                                send #138

        subscribe       Sender is added to our mailing list.  To subscribe, 
                        supply the following in the subject line (not body):

                            	subscribe cws your-email-address
			
                        Note that your-email-address should be substituted
                        by your email address.
			
        unsubscribe     Sender is removed from the CWS mailing list.
________________________________________________________________________________

Copyright 1998 Sun Microsystems, Inc. All rights reserved. Sun, 
Sun Microsystems, Solaris and SunOS are trademarks or registered trademarks 
of Sun Microsystems, Inc. in the United States and other countries. This 
Security Bulletin may be reproduced and distributed, provided that this 
Security Bulletin is not modified in any way and is attributed to 
Sun Microsystems, Inc. and provided that such reproduction and distribution 
is performed for non-commercial purposes.

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