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- ***********************************************************************
- DDN Security Bulletin 9114 DCA DDN Defense Communications System
- 27 Aug 91 Published by: DDN Security Coordination Center
- (SCC@NIC.DDN.MIL) (800) 235-3155
-
- DEFENSE DATA NETWORK
- SECURITY BULLETIN
-
- The DDN SECURITY BULLETIN is distributed by the DDN SCC (Security
- Coordination Center) under DCA contract as a means of communicating
- information on network and host security exposures, fixes, & concerns
- to security & management personnel at DDN facilities. Back issues may
- be obtained via FTP (or Kermit) from NIC.DDN.MIL [192.67.67.20]
- using login="anonymous" and password="guest". The bulletin pathname is
- SCC:DDN-SECURITY-yynn (where "yy" is the year the bulletin is issued
- and "nn" is a bulletin number, e.g. SCC:DDN-SECURITY-9001).
- **********************************************************************
-
- SGI "IRIX" /usr/sbin/fmt Vulnerability
-
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- ! !
- ! The following important advisory was issued by the Computer !
- ! Emergency Response Team (CERT) and is being relayed unedited !
- ! via the Defense Communications Agency's Security Coordination !
- ! Center distribution system as a means of providing DDN !
- ! subscribers with useful security information. !
- ! !
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-
-
-
- CA-91:14 CERT Advisory
- August 26, 1991
- SGI "IRIX" /usr/sbin/fmt Vulnerability
-
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
-
- The Computer Emergency Response Team/Coordination Center (CERT/CC) has
- received information concerning a vulnerability of mail messages in Silicon
- Graphics Computer Systems' IRIX versions prior to 4.0 (this includes all
- 3.2 and 3.3.* versions). This problem has been fixed in version 4.0.
-
- Information regarding the exploitation of this vulnerability is inherently
- disclosed by any discussion of the problem (including this Advisory) so
- we recommend taking immediate action. Until you are able to apply the patch,
- mail at your site is vulnerable to being read by any ordinary user logged
- in at that site.
-
- Silicon Graphics has provided the enclosed patch instructions.
-
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
-
- I. DESCRIPTION:
-
- A vulnerability exists such that IRIX pre-4.0 (e.g., 3.3.3) systems
- with the basic system software ("eoe1.sw.unix") installed can allow
- unauthorized read access to users' mail messages, by exploiting a
- configuration error in a standard system utility. Due to the ease
- of exploiting this vulnerability and the simplicity of the corrective
- action, the CERT/CC urges all sites to install the patch given below.
-
- II. IMPACT:
-
- Anyone who can log in on a given IRIX pre-4.0 (3.2, 3.3, 3.3.*) system
- can read mail messages which have been delivered to any other user on
- that same system.
-
- III. SOLUTION:
-
- As "root", execute the following commands:
-
- chmod 755 /usr/sbin/fmt
- chown root.sys /usr/sbin/fmt
-
- If system software should ever be reloaded from a 3.2 or 3.3.*
- installation tape or from a backup tape created before the patch
- was applied, repeat the above procedure immediately after the software
- has been reloaded, before enabling logins by normal users.
-
- [Fixed in IRIX 4.0.]
-
-
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
- The CERT/CC would like to thank Silicon Graphics for bringing this
- vulnerability and solution to our attention.
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
-
- If you believe that your system has been compromised, contact CERT/CC via
- telephone or e-mail.
-
- Computer Emergency Response Team/Coordination Center (CERT/CC)
- Software Engineering Institute
- Carnegie Mellon University
- Pittsburgh, PA 15213-3890
-
- Internet E-mail: cert@cert.sei.cmu.edu
- Telephone: 412-268-7090 24-hour hotline:
- CERT/CC personnel answer 7:30a.m.-6:00p.m. EST,
- on call for emergencies during other hours.
-
- Past advisories and other computer security related information are available
- for anonymous ftp from the cert.sei.cmu.edu (192.88.209.5) system.
-
-
-