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              AUSCERT External Security Bulletin Redistribution
                             
             ESB-1999.159 -- HP SECURITY BULLETIN HPSBUX9910-104
                   Security Advisory regarding automountd
                               22 October 1999

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Hewlett-Packard has released the following bulletin concerning a buffer
overflow vulnerability in automountd.  This vulnerability may be exploited 
remotely to execute arbitrary commands with the privileges of the automountd 
service, typically root.

This vulnerability was previously discussed in CERT Advisory CA-99-05 
(AusCERT ESB-1999.074), in which it was reported that Hewlett-Packard 
platforms were not vulnerable; new information has shown that they are
indeed vulnerable.

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Document ID:  HPSBUX9910-104
Date Loaded:  19991020
      Title:  Security Advisory regarding automountd

- -------------------------------------------------------------------------
      HEWLETT-PACKARD COMPANY SECURITY ADVISORY: #00104, 21 Oct. 99
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------

The information in the following Security Advisory should be acted upon
as soon as possible.  Hewlett-Packard Company will not be liable for any
consequences to any customer resulting from customer's failure to fully
implement instructions in this Security Advisory as soon as possible.

- -------------------------------------------------------------------------
PROBLEM:  automountd can run user programs as root.

PLATFORM: HP-9000 Series 700/800 HP-UX releases 10.X and 11.00.

DAMAGE:   Allows users to gain root privileges

SOLUTION: Temporarily set AutoFS = 0 in  /etc/rc.config.d/nfsconf
          (see below)

AVAILABILITY: No patches for 10.X and 11.00 are available at this time.
          NOTE: This advisory will be revised when patches are available.
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------
I.
   A. Background
      This problem was originally reported in CERT Advisory CA-99-05,
      regarding the vulnerability in automountd which allows an
      intruder to execute arbitrary commands with the privileges of
      the automountd process.

      We had previously reported that Hewlett-Packard platforms were
      not vulnerable; we now have new information showing that we
      are indeed vulnerable.

   B. Fixing the problem -
      At this time there are no patches available for any releases.

      As a work around, setting AutoFS = 0 in the file
      /etc/rc.config.d/nfsconf,  we believe, will disallow most
      exploitations.  We continue to work on this problem and this
      advisory will be updated when patches become available.

   C. To subscribe to automatically receive future NEW HP Security
      Bulletins from the HP IT Resource Center via electronic mail,
      do the following:

      Use your browser to get to the HP IT Resource Center page
      at:
         http://us-support2.external.hp.com
               (for US, Canada, Asia-Pacific, & Latin-America)
      or:
         http://europe-support2.external.hp.com     (for Europe).

      Under the heading "Maintenance and Support (Electronic Support
      Center)," click on the link "More..."  Then at the very bottom,
      click on "Support Information Digests" underneath the
      heading NOTIFICATION.

      Now login with your user ID and password (or register for one).
      Remember to save the User ID assigned to you, and your password.

      Once you are on the Spport Information Main page, follow the
      instructions there.
      To -subscribe- to future HP Security Bulletins,
        click on "Support Information Digests".
      To -review- bulletins already released,
        click on the link "HP Security Bulletins Archive."

      In the archive there is another link to our current Security
      Patch Matrix.  Updated daily, this matrix categorizes security
      patches by platform/OS release, and by topic.

      The security patch matrix is also available via anonymous ftp
      from:   us-ffs.external.hp.com     in
      ~ftp/export/patches/hp-ux_patch_matrix

   D. To report new security vulnerabilities, send email to

       security-alert@hp.com

      Please encrypt any exploit information using the security-alert
      PGP key, available from your local key server, or by sending a
      message with a -subject- (not body) of 'get key' (no quotes) to
      security-alert@hp.com.

     Permission is granted for copying and circulating this advisory to
     Hewlett-Packard (HP) customers (or the Internet community) for the
     purpose of alerting them to problems, if and only if, the advisory
     is not edited or changed in any way, is attributed to HP, and
     provided such reproduction and/or distribution is performed for
     non-commercial purposes.

     Any other use of this information is prohibited. HP is not liable
     for any misuse of this information by any third party.
________________________________________________________________________
- -----End of Document ID:  HPSBUX9910-104--------------------------------------


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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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