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Re: iDEFENSE Security Advisory 02.07.05: IBM AIX chdev Local Format String Vulnerability



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IBM SECURITY ADVISORY

First Issued:  Mon Feb  7 14:45:13 CST 2005

==========================================================================
                           VULNERABILITY SUMMARY

VULNERABILITY:      A format string vulnerability in the chdev command
                    may allow a local user in the system group to gain
                    root privileges.

PLATFORMS:          AIX 5.1, 5.2 and 5.3.

SOLUTION:           Apply the workaround or APARs as described below.

THREAT:             A local user may gain root privileges.

CERT VU Number:     N/A
CVE Number:         N/A
==========================================================================
                           DETAILED INFORMATION


I.  Description
===============

A format string vulnerability in the chdev command was discovered. This
vulnerability may allow a local user in the system group to gain root
privileges.

The command affected by this issue ships as part of the bos.rte.methods
fileset. To determine if this fileset is installed, execute the following
command:

# lslpp -L bos.rte.methods

If the fileset is installed it will be listed along with its version
information, state, type and a description.


II. Impact
==========
A local user in the system group may gain root privileges.

III.  Solutions
===============

A. Official Fix

IBM provides the following fixes:

      APAR number for AIX 5.1.0: IY67741 (available approx. 03/23/05)
      APAR number for AIX 5.2.0: IY67455 (available approx. 04/15/05)
      APAR number for AIX 5.3.0: IY67654 (available approx. 04/15/05)

NOTE: Affected customers are urged to upgrade to 5.1.0, 5.2.0 or 5.3.0 at
the latest maintenance level.

B. Workaround

Setting the file mode bits to 500 will allow only the root user to execute
the chdev command. This can be done by executing the following command as
root:

# chmod 500 /usr/sbin/chdev

Verify that the file mode bits have been changed to 500:

# ls -la /usr/sbin/chdev
- -r-x------  1 root system 22238 2003-05-02 01:19 /usr/sbin/chdev

IV. Obtaining Fixes
===================
AIX Version 5 APARs can be downloaded from:

     http://www-1.ibm.com/servers/eserver/support/pseries/aixfixes.html

Security related Emergency Fixes can be downloaded from:

     ftp://aix.software.ibm.com/aix/efixes/security


V.  Acknowledgments
====================
This vulnerability was reported by iDEFENSE.


VI.  Contact Information
========================

If you would like to receive AIX Security Advisories via email, please
visit:

     https://techsupport.services.ibm.com/server/pseries.subscriptionSvcs

Comments regarding the content of this announcement can be directed to:

     security-alert@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx

To request the PGP public key that can be used to communicate securely
with the AIX Security Team send email to security-alert@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx
with a subject of "get key". The key can also be downloaded from a PGP
Public Key Server. The key id is 0x9391C1F2.

Please contact your local IBM AIX support center for any assistance.

eServer is a trademark of International Business Machines Corporation.
IBM, AIX and pSeries are registered trademarks of International Business
Machines Corporation. All other trademarks are property of their
respective holders.
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