Date: 19 August 1999
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AUSCERT External Security Bulletin Redistribution
ESB-1999.117 -- IBM-ERS Security Vulnerability Alert #1999:003.1
IBM C Set ++ for AIX Source Code Browser
19 August 1999
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The IBM Emergency Response Service has released the following alert
concerning a buffer overflow vulnerability in the Source Code Browser's
Program Database Name Server Daemon (pdnsd) of versions 2 and 3 of IBM's
C Set ++ for AIX. This vulnerability may allow local and remote users to
gain root access.
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EMERGENCY RESPONSE SERVICE
SECURITY VULNERABILITY ALERT
17 August 1999 13:00 GMT Number: ERS-SVA-E01-1999:003.1
===============================================================================
VULNERABILITY SUMMARY
VULNERABILITY: The IBM C Set ++ for AIX Source Code Browser allows local
and remote users to become root.
PLATFORMS: C Set ++ for AIX Version 3 (5765-421)
C Set ++ for AIX Version 2 (5765-186)
SOLUTION: Disable the source code browser daemon (pdnsd).
===============================================================================
DETAILED INFORMATION
I. Description
A buffer overflow vulnerability has been discovered in the Source Code
Browser's Program Database Name Server Daemon (pdnsd) of versions 2 and 3 of
IBM's C Set ++ for AIX. This vulnerability allows local and remote users to
gain root access. To date, there are no known reports of this being
exploited.
II. Solutions
A. Official fix
IBM C Set ++ for AIX versions 2 and 3 are no longer supported and no APAR
will be issued. Customers are encouraged to upgrade to a later compiler
version.
B. How to alleviate the problem
The pdnsd daemon should be disabled by running the following commands as
root:
# rmitab browser
# chown root.system /usr/lpp/xlC/browser/pdnsd
# chmod 0 /usr/lpp/xlC/browser/pdnsd
# /usr/lpp/xlC/browser/pdnsdkill
III. Contact Information
Comments regarding the content of this announcement can be directed to:
security-alert@austin.ibm.com
To request the PGP public key that can be used to encrypt new AIX security
vulnerabilities, send email to security-alert@austin.ibm.com with a subject
of "get key".
If you would like to subscribe to the AIX security newsletter, send a note to
aixserv@austin.ibm.com with a subject of "subscribe Security". To cancel
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other available subscriptions, use a subject of "help".
IBM and AIX are a registered trademark of International Business Machines
Corporation. All other trademarks are property of their respective holders.
===============================================================================
IBM's Internet Emergency Response Service (IBM-ERS) is a subscription-based
Internet security response service that includes computer security incident
response and management, regular electronic verification of your Internet
gateway(s), and security vulnerability alerts similar to this one that are
tailored to your specific computing environment. By acting as an extension
of your own internal security staff, IBM-ERS's team of Internet security
experts helps you quickly detect and respond to attacks and exposures across
your Internet connection(s).
As a part of IBM's Business Recovery Services organization, the IBM Internet
Emergency Response Service is a component of IBM's SecureWay(tm) line of
security products and services. From hardware to software to consulting,
SecureWay solutions can give you the assurance and expertise you need to
protect your valuable business resources. To find out more about the IBM
Internet Emergency Response Service, send an electronic mail message to
ers-sales@ers.ibm.com, or call 1-800-599-9950.
IBM-ERS maintains a site on the World Wide Web at http://www.ers.ibm.com/.
Visit the site for information about the service, copies of security alerts,
team contact information, and other items.
IBM-ERS uses Pretty Good Privacy* (PGP*) as the digital signature mechanism for
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"Pretty Good Privacy" and "PGP" are trademarks of Philip Zimmermann.
IBM-ERS is a Member Team of the Forum of Incident Response and Security Teams
(FIRST), a global organization established to foster cooperation and response
coordination among computer security teams worldwide.
Copyright 1999 International Business Machines Corporation.
The information in this document is provided as a service to customers of
the IBM Emergency Response Service. Neither International Business Machines
Corporation, nor any of its employees, makes any warranty, express or implied,
or assumes any legal liability or responsibility for the accuracy, complete-
ness, or usefulness of any information, apparatus, product, or process
contained herein, or represents that its use would not infringe any 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 IBM or its subsidiaries. The views and opinions of authors expressed
herein do not necessarily state or reflect those of IBM or its subsidiaries,
and may not be used for advertising or product endorsement purposes.
The material in this security alert may be reproduced and distributed,
without permission, in whole or in part, by other security incident response
teams (both commercial and non-commercial), provided the above copyright is
kept intact and due credit is given to IBM-ERS.
This security alert may be reproduced and distributed, without permission,
in its entirety only, by any person provided such reproduction and/or
distribution is performed for non-commercial purposes and with the intent of
increasing the awareness of the Internet community.
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