iDEFENSE Security Advisory 04.07.05: SGI IRIX gr_osview File Overwrite Vulnerability
SGI IRIX gr_osview File Overwrite Vulnerability
iDEFENSE Security Advisory 04.07.05
http://www.idefense.com/application/poi/display?type=vulnerabilities
April 7, 2005
I. BACKGROUND
The gr_osview application is a setuid root application that provides a
graphical display of usage of certain types of operating system
resources. It is installed by default under multiple versions of IRIX 6.
II. DESCRIPTION
Local exploitation of a file overwrite vulnerability in the gr_osview
command included in multiple versions of Silicon Graphics Inc.'s IRIX
operating system could allow for the overwriting of arbitrary files,
regardless of permissions.
The vulnerability specifically exists in the way that gr_osview opens
user specified files without dropping privileges. When a file is
specified using the "-s" option, it will be opened regardless of
permissions, and operating system usage information will be written into
it. An example follows:
user@irix$ gr_osview -s /etc/shadow
After execution of that command, the system shadow file will be
overwritten with system usage information. With a damaged shadow file,
users will no longer be able to log on remotely or locally.
III. ANALYSIS
All that is required to exploit this vulnerability is a local account
and an open X display, which could be the attacker's home machine or
another compromised computer. Exploitation does not require any
knowledge of application internals, making exploitation trivial, even
for unskilled attackers.
IV. DETECTION
iDEFENSE has confirmed the existence of this vulnerability in SGI IRIX
version 6.5.22 (maintenance). It is suspected that previous and later
versions of both the feature and maintenance revisions of IRIX 6.5 are
also vulnerable.
V. WORKAROUND
Only allow trusted users local access to security-critical systems.
Alternately, remove the setuid bit from inpview using:
chmod u-s /usr/sbin/gr_osview
VI. VENDOR RESPONSE
This vulnerability has been addressed in SGI BUG 930890.
Related security advisories are available at:
http://www.sgi.com/support/security/advisories.html
Related patches are available at:
http://www.sgi.com/support/security/patches.html
ftp://patches.sgi.com/support/free/security/patches/
VII. CVE INFORMATION
The Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures (CVE) project has assigned the
names CAN-2005-0465 to these issues. This is a candidate for inclusion
in the CVE list (http://cve.mitre.org), which standardizes names for
security problems.
VIII. DISCLOSURE TIMELINE
02/18/2005 Initial vendor notification
02/23/2005 Initial vendor response
04/07/2005 Coordinated public disclosure
IX. CREDIT
The discoverer of this vulnerability wishes to remain anonymous.
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X. LEGAL NOTICES
Copyright (c) 2005 iDEFENSE, Inc.
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Disclaimer: The information in the advisory is believed to be accurate
at the time of publishing based on currently available information. Use
of the information constitutes acceptance for use in an AS IS condition.
There are no warranties with regard to this information. Neither the
author nor the publisher accepts any liability for any direct, indirect,
or consequential loss or damage arising from use of, or reliance on,
this information.