__________________________________________________________ The U.S. Department of Energy Computer Incident Advisory Center ___ __ __ _ ___ / | /_\ / \___ __|__ / \ \___ __________________________________________________________ INFORMATION BULLETIN Multi-Vendor format String Vulnerability in ToolTalk Service [Internet Security Systems Security Advisory - Oct 2, 2001] October 4, 2001 12:00 GMT Number M-002 [Revised 3 December 2001] ______________________________________________________________________________ PROBLEM: There is a remotely exploitable buffer overflow in rpc.ttdbserver. PLATFORM: Affected Versions: HP HP-UX 10.10 HP HP-UX 10.20 HP HP-UX 10.24 HP HP-UX 11.00 HP HP-UX 11.04 HP HP-UX 11.11 IBM AIX 4.3 IBM AIX 5.1 Compaq Tru64 DIGITAL UNIX v4.0f Compaq Tru64 DIGITAL UNIX v4.0g Compaq Tru64 DIGITAL UNIX v5.0a Compaq Tru64 DIGITAL UNIX v5.1 Compaq Tru64 DIGITAL UNIX v5.1a Sun Solaris 7 Sun Solaris 8 * SGI IRIX 5.2-6.4 * Sun Solaris 1.1-1.2 * Sun Solaris 2.0-2.7 * Note: This list is believed to be accurate, but not all platforms and versions have been tested. This list may or may not include every vulnerable platform and version. DAMAGE: Unauthorized users may gain access and increased privileges. SOLUTION: Until patches are available follow vendor specific suggestions outlined below. HP released patches 10/3/01. HP Document ID: HPSBUX0010-168 Sun released a patch on November 13, 2001. ______________________________________________________________________________ VULNERABILITY The risk is HIGH. This can allow an attacker remote access and ASSESSMENT: an increase in privileges. ______________________________________________________________________________ LINKS: CIAC BULLETIN: http://www.ciac.org/ciac/bulletins/m-002.shtml PATCHES: December 3, 2001: For Sun's patch, see the following URL: http://sunsolve.sun.com/securitypatch SUN BULLETIN: http://sunsolve.sun.com/pub-cgi/retrieve.pl?doctype=coll&doc=secbull/212&type=0&nav=sec.sba ______________________________________________________________________________ [***** Start Internet Security Systems Security Advisory - Oct 2, 2001 *****] Internet Security Systems Security Advisory October 2, 2001 Multi-Vendor Format String Vulnerability in ToolTalk Service Synopsis: ISS X-Force has discovered a format string vulnerability in the ToolTalk RPC service present on many commercial Unix variants. The ToolTalk database server (rpc.ttdbserverd) contains a format string vulnerability that may allow remote attackers to crash the ToolTalk service, or execute arbitrary code on a target system with super user privilege. Affected Versions: HP HP-UX 10.10 HP HP-UX 10.20 HP HP-UX 11.00 HP HP-UX 11.11 IBM AIX 4.3 IBM AIX 5.1 * SGI IRIX 5.2-6.4 Compaq Tru64 DIGITAL UNIX v4.0f Compaq Tru64 DIGITAL UNIX v4.0g Compaq Tru64 DIGITAL UNIX v5.0a Compaq Tru64 DIGITAL UNIX v5.1 Compaq Tru64 DIGITAL UNIX v5.1a * Sun Solaris 1.1-1.2 * Sun Solaris 2.0-2.7 Sun Solaris 7 Sun Solaris 8 * Note: This list is believed to be accurate, but not all platforms and versions have been tested. This list may or may not include every vulnerable platform and version. Description: The ToolTalk architecture is designed to allow custom applications to communicate with each other over the network. ToolTalk enabled applications communicate via RPC (Remote Procedure Call) and are managed by the ToolTalk database server (rpc.ttdbserverd). The rpc.ttdbserverd is enabled by default on many popular Unix operating systems, even if its functionality is not needed or if ToolTalk enabled applications are not present. ToolTalk contains a "syslog()" call that will interpret user-supplied formatting arguments. This call is insecure and allows remote attackers to control formatting and manipulate data at arbitrary locations in the memory of the running executable. A format string vulnerability is similar to a buffer overflow vulnerability in that the result of a successful attack is unauthorized manipulation of protected memory in a running program. Format string vulnerabilities manifest when programmers neglect to specify a format argument when using functions in the "printf" family. A secure print function may look like this: printf(string, "%s"); A vulnerable print function may look like this: printf(string); When user-supplied strings encounter a printf function without a specified format argument, the string is printed without special formatting. However, if a user creates a string including format characters and sends it to an insecure printf function, the string can function as a reference to memory that is normally out of bounds. In order to prevent this, printf functions must contain a print argument to securely restrict user-supplied input to specific memory locations. Recommendations: ISS X-Force recommends that all affected users apply the appropriate vendor-supplied patches listed below. X-Force also recommends that if ToolTalk is not explicitly required, it should be disabled immediately. ISS X-Force will provide detection and assessment support for this vulnerability in upcoming X-Press Updates for RealSecure Network Sensor and Internet Scanner. Sun Microsystems, Inc. Sun has reproduced the vulnerability and is testing a fix. The Sun patches will be made available at the following location: http://sunsolve.sun.com/securitypatch Hewlett Packard, Inc. All current HP-UX versions are vulnerable. HP has reproduced the vulnerability and has made an emergency fix available. HP customers should refer to HP Security Bulletin #0168 (Document ID HPSBUX0110-168) for more information. All HP security information is accessible at the following location: http://www.itresourcecenter.hp.com/ The HP emergency fix is now available at the following location: ftp site: hprc.external.hp.com (192.170.19.51). account: xgraphic password: xgraphic directory: ~xgraphic/CDE file: rpc.ttdbserver.tar.gz (UPDATE) HP released patches 10/3/01. HP Document ID: HPSBUX0010-168 SGI SGI is currently investigating the vulnerability and will announce a fix if one is made available. SGI security information is available at the following location: http://www.sgi.com/support/security/ Compaq Computer Corporation Compaq has identified the vulnerability and made patches available. This patch may be obtained from the following URL address: http://www.support.compaq.com/patches/ Select BROWSE PATCH TREE and choose the version directory required. The patch names are: DUV40F17-C0056200-11703-ER-*.tar T64V40G17-C0007000-11704-ER-*.tar T64V50A17-C0015500-11705-ER-*.tar T64V5117-C0065200-11706-ER-*.tar T64V51Assb-C0000800-11707-ER-*.tar Note: The asterisk in the filename indicates the remainder of the tarfile name may change depending on the applicable date. This patch can be installed on: V4.0f, V4.0g all patch kits V5.0a, V5.1, and V5.1a all patch kits IBM Corporation IBM has identified the vulnerability and will provide an emergency fix. The fix will be made available from the following FTP site: ftp://aix.software.ibm.com/aix/efixes/security/tooltalk_efix.tar.Z Additional Information: The Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures (CVE) project has assigned the name CAN-2001-0717 to this issue. This is a candidate for inclusion in the CVE list (http://cve.mitre.org), which standardizes names for security problems. Credits: This vulnerability was discovered and researched by Mark Dowd of the ISS X-Force. Internet Security Systems would like to thank Sun, HP, Digital, IBM, SGI and CERT for their response and handling of this vulnerability. ______ About Internet Security Systems (ISS) Internet Security Systems is a leading global provider of security management solutions for the Internet, protecting digital assets and ensuring safe and uninterrupted e-business. With its industry-leading intrusion detection and vulnerability assessment, remote managed security services, and strategic consulting and education offerings, ISS is a trusted security provider to more than 8,000 customers worldwide including 21 of the 25 largest U.S. commercial banks and the top 10 U.S. telecommunications companies. Founded in 1994, ISS is headquartered in Atlanta, GA, with additional offices throughout North America and international operations in Asia, Australia, Europe, Latin America and the Middle East. For more information, visit the Internet Security Systems web site at www.iss.net or call 888-901-7477. Copyright (c) 2001 Internet Security Systems, Inc. Permission is hereby granted for the redistribution of this Alert electronically. It is not to be edited in any way without express consent of the X-Force. If you wish to reprint the whole or any part of this Alert in any other medium excluding electronic medium, please e-mail xforce@iss.net for permission. Disclaimer The information within this paper may change without notice. Use of this information constitutes acceptance for use in an AS IS condition. There are NO warranties with regard to this information. In no event shall the author be liable for any damages whatsoever arising out of or in connection with the use or spread of this information. Any use of this information is at the user's own risk. X-Force PGP Key available at: http://xforce.iss.net/sensitive.php as well as on MIT's PGP key server and PGP.com's key server. Please send suggestions, updates, and comments to: X-Force xforce@iss.net of Internet Security Systems, Inc. [***** End Internet Security Systems Security Advisory - Oct 2, 2001 *****] _______________________________________________________________________________ CIAC wishes to acknowledge the contributions of Internet Security Systems, Inc. for the information contained in this bulletin. _______________________________________________________________________________ CIAC, the Computer Incident Advisory Center, is the computer security incident response team for the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and the emergency backup response team for the National Institutes of Health (NIH). CIAC is located at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory in Livermore, California. CIAC is also a founding member of FIRST, the Forum of Incident Response and Security Teams, a global organization established to foster cooperation and coordination among computer security teams worldwide. CIAC services are available to DOE, DOE contractors, and the NIH. 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Neither the United States Government nor the University of California nor any of their employees, makes any warranty, express or implied, or assumes any legal liability or responsibility for the accuracy, completeness, or usefulness of any information, apparatus, product, or process disclosed, or represents that its use would not infringe 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 the United States Government or the University of California. The views and opinions of authors expressed herein do not necessarily state or reflect those of the United States Government or the University of California, and shall not be used for advertising or product endorsement purposes. 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