Published:
28 October 1997
Protect yourself against future threats.
-----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE----- =========================================================================== AUSCERT External Security Bulletin Redistribution ESB-97.136 -- Sun Security Bulletin #00157 sysdef 29 October 1997 =========================================================================== Sun Microsystems, Inc. has released the following advisory concerning a vulnerability in the sysdef program. This vulnerability may allow unprivileged users to read kernel memory which may contain sensitive information such as unencrypted passwords. This can be leveraged to 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. 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 Facsimile: (07) 3365 4477 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. - --------------------------BEGIN INCLUDED TEXT-------------------- - -----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE----- ________________________________________________________________________________ Sun Microsystems, Inc. Security Bulletin Bulletin Number: #00157 Date: October 28, 1997 Cross-Ref: Title: sysdef ________________________________________________________________________________ Permission is granted for the redistribution of this Bulletin, so long as the Bulletin is not edited and is attributed to Sun Microsystems. Portions may also be excerpted for re-use in other security advisories so long as proper attribution is included. Any other use of this information without the express written consent of Sun Microsystems is prohibited. Sun Microsystems expressly disclaims all liability for any misuse of this information by any third party. ________________________________________________________________________________ 1. Bulletins Topics Sun announces the release of patches for Solaris 2.5.1, 2.5, 2.4, 2.3, (SunOS 5.5.1, 5.5, 5.4, 5.3) which relate to a vulnerability in sysdef. Sun strongly recommends that you install the patches listed in section 4 immediately on systems running SunOS 5.5.1, 5.5, 5.4, and 5.3. 2. Who is Affected Vulnerable: SunOS versions 5.5.1, 5.5.1_x86, 5.5, 5.5_x86, 5.4, 5.4_x86, 5.3 The vulnerability is fixed in Solaris 2.6. 3. Understanding the Vulnerability The sysdef command displays the current system definition, listing hardware devices, pseudo devices, system devices, loadable modules, and values of selected kernel tunable parameters. This vulnerability, if exploited, allows unprivileged users to read kernel memory which may contain sensitive information such as unencrypted passwords. Attackers can subsequently use the information to gain root access. 4. List of Patches The vulnerability in sysdef is fixed by the following patches: OS version Patch ID __________ ________ SunOS 5.5.1 105092-01 SunOS 5.5.1_x86 105093-01 SunOS 5.5 105101-01 SunOS 5.5_x86 105102-01 SunOS 5.4 105099-01 SunOS 5.4_x86 105100-01 SunOS 5.3 105205-01 5. Checksum Table The checksum table below shows the BSD checksums (SunOS 5.x: /usr/ucb/sum), SVR4 checksums (SunOS 5.x: /usr/bin/sum), and the MD5 digital signatures for the above-mentioned patches that are available from: <URL:ftp://sunsolve1.sun.com/pub/patches/patches.html> These checksums may not apply if you obtain patches from your answer centers. File Name BSD SVR4 MD5 _______________ _________ __________ ________________________________ 105092-01.tar.Z 18806 104 64648 207 CD282DB673136EE05FB63A59ADF04089 105093-01.tar.Z 29154 103 12815 206 521E2523DFCF6EB7476D40FAE17B4990 105101-01.tar.Z 10425 103 62933 205 E0F25757D958C4FF74B44471B6659532 105102-01.tar.Z 45898 102 45444 204 1E4953774F47C899EB25ACE8D0ED2B18 105099-01.tar.Z 64861 92 23604 183 E35540AC8BFCACED246F11A45E7BE55C 105100-01.tar.Z 61681 91 12641 182 F1C568E5D830D465B01B9892E19DDDAA 105205-01.tar.Z 65019 92 2573 183 951AB33FB3680E0F06C2182D34536725 _______________________________________________________________________________ Sun thanks Marko Laakso (University of Oulu, Finland) 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:ftp://sunsolve1.sun.com/pub/patches/patches.html> Customers with Sun support contracts can also obtain patches from local Sun answer centers and SunSITEs worldwide. B. Sun security bulletins are available via World Wide Web at: <URL:http://sunsolve1.sun.com/sunsolve/secbulletins> C. Sun Security Coordination Team's PGP key is available via World Wide Web at: <URL:http://sunsolve1.sun.com/sunsolve/secbulletins/SunSCkey.txt> D. 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 E. 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 list A list of current security topics query [topic] The email is treated as an inquiry and is forwarded to the Security Coordination Team report [topic] The email is treated as a security report and is forwarded to the Security Coordinaton Team. Please 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. ________________________________________________________________________________ - -----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE----- Version: 2.6.2 iQCVAwUBNFVP/7dzzzOFBFjJAQFjugQAhzkz8EQ1t1Nn7I+RlFG9Yo/Fh//d6hQu O8IqV0CPDRKyEidUI2VGrzdzEoZ6z9xizUPpZvm2mgNVwc02y1hVsmHZVQS+mnDH OHIacHgPQ4kPEpBuKUql7//aYIkhEhpy+BZd0QfCYidLIKRIQklcit2Nq35C008J gqgb5utcd/k= =KALb - -----END PGP SIGNATURE----- - --------------------------END INCLUDED TEXT-------------------- -----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE----- Version: 2.6.3i Charset: noconv Comment: ftp://ftp.auscert.org.au/pub/auscert/AUSCERT_PGP.key iQCVAwUBNFcI2Ch9+71yA2DNAQFJugQAnhXAYisUFzHUR5KO5fv8x5Y196XtzyMF gteTdDy6GW+jnp+Y/1VQ0Wyam6H4ktFIu/ehrL8mC8qb5sB61Weaf8AdRDRZjamg kAKxD8zwlNuIjfQt9nWty5hplmuZ1m5BiIHA4TJf0YPKPn/btOxc8B6HAL1QBSMf bYLEljI2mcw= =pZt8 -----END PGP SIGNATURE-----