Published:
12 August 1998
Protect yourself against future threats.
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AUSCERT External Security Bulletin Redistribution
ESB-98.132 -- HEWLETT-PACKARD SECURITY BULLETIN: HPSBUX9808-082
Security Vulnerability with Netscape on VVOS
13 August 1998
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Hewlett-Packard has released the following advisory concerning a
vulnerability in RSA Data Security encryption algorithms with Netscape
server products that support Secure Sockets Layer (SSL). The nature of
the vulnerability is that a single encrypted SSL network conversation
could be recorded and subsequently decrypted. The Netscape Enterprise
Server Release 2.01 is embedded in the VirtualVault A.02.00 and A.03.00
releases.
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Document ID: HPSBUX9808-082
Date Loaded: 19980811
Title: Security Vulnerability with Netscape on VVOS
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HEWLETT-PACKARD SECURITY BULLETIN: #00082 12 August 1998
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The information in the following Security Bulletin should be acted upon
as soon as possible. Hewlett-Packard Company will not be liable for any
consequences to any customer resulting from customer's failure to fully
implement instructions in this Security Bulletin as soon as possible.
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PROBLEM: The Million Question vulnerability affects the use of RSA Data
Security encryption algorithms with Netscape server products
that support Secure Sockets Layer (SSL). The nature of the
vulnerability is that a single encrypted SSL network
conversation could be recorded and subsequently decrypted.
The Netscape Enterprise Server Release 2.01 is embedded in
the VirtualVault A.02.00 and A.03.00 releases.
PLATFORM: HP9000 Series 7/800 running:
HP-UX 10.24 (VVOS) with VirtualVault A.02.00 (NES 2.01 embedded)
HP-UX 10.24 (VVOS) with VirtualVault A.03.00 (NES 2.01 embedded)
DAMAGE: A cryptanalytic vulnerability could potentially be used to
discover the key for a particular encrypted session through
a process of repeatedly sending on the order of one million
carefully constructed messages to a target server and observing
the server's response.
SOLUTION: Apply the appropriate VirtualVault Patch noted below.
AVAILABILITY: All patches for the VirtualVault releases 2.0 and 3.0 are
available now from HP.
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I.
A. Background
According to RSA Data Security, Inc., this potential attack against
secure Web communications is currently the subject of research and
has not been reported by any users.
CERT has made a technical advisory (CA-98.07.PKCS) on this
vulnerability available at http://www.cert.org/.
B. Recommended solution
This problem can be eliminated by installing the recommended patch.
Hewlett-Packard recommends that the following patches be loaded
as applicable:
HP-UX 10.24 (VVOS) with VirtualVault A.02.00 (US/Canada): PHSS_15993
HP-UX 10.24 (VVOS) with VirtualVault A.02.00 (Export): PHSS_15994
HP-UX 10.24 (VVOS) with VirtualVault A.03.00 (US/Canada): PHSS_15935
HP-UX 10.24 (VVOS) with VirtualVault A.03.00 (Export): PHSS_15936
Customers running the Export version of VirtualVault (B5410AA,
B5410BA, B5412AA, B5412BA) may download the patch PHSS_15994 or
PHSS_15936 from the Electronic Support Center or request a tape from
their local Response Center.
Customers running the US/Canada version of VirtualVault (B5409AA,
B5409BA, B5411AA, B5411BA) who reside in the US or Canada can request
a tape of patch PHSS_15993 or PHSS_15935 from their local Response
Center.
Customers running the US/Canada version of VirtualVault outside of
the US and Canada will be shipped the patch directly.
C. Impact of the patch
Applying patches PHSS_15993, PHSS_15994, PHSS_15935 or PHSS_15936
eliminates the vulnerability in the Netscape Enterprise Server yet
does not otherwise impact the system.
D. To subscribe to automatically receive future NEW HP Security
Bulletins from the HP Electronic Support Center via electronic
mail, do the following:
Use your browser to get to the HP Electronic Support Center page at:
http://us-support.external.hp.com
(for US, Canada, Asia-Pacific, & Latin-America)
http://europe-support.external.hp.com (for Europe)
Login with your user ID and password (or register for one).
Remember to save the User ID assigned to you, and your password.
Once you are in the Main Menu:
To -subscribe- to future HP Security Bulletins,
click on "Support Information Digests".
To -review- bulletins already released from the main Menu,
click on the "Technical Knowledge Database (Security Bulletins
only)".
Near the bottom of the next page, click on "Browse the HP Security
Bulletin Archive".
Once in the archive there is another link to our current Security
Patch Matrix. Updated daily, this matrix is categorizes security
patches by platform/OS release, and by bulletin topic.
E. To report new security vulnerabilities, send email to
security-alert@hp.com
Please encrypt any exploit information using the security-alert
PGP key, available from your local key server, or by sending a
message with a -subject- (not body) of 'get key' (no quotes) to
security-alert@hp.com.
Netscape, Messaging, Collabora, FastTrack/Enterprise Server and
Netscape Server are trademarks of Netscape Communications Corp.
Permission is granted for copying and circulating this Bulletin to
Hewlett-Packard (HP) customers (or the Internet community) for the
purpose of alerting them to problems, if and only if, the Bulletin
is not edited or changed in any way, is attributed to HP, and
provided such reproduction and/or distribution is performed for
non-commercial purposes.
Any other use of this information is prohibited. HP is not liable
for any misuse of this information by any third party.
________________________________________________________________________
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This security bulletin is provided as a service to AusCERT's members. As
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NOTE: This is only the original release of the security bulletin. It will
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If you believe that your system has been compromised, contact AusCERT or
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