Published:
20 February 2000
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-----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE----- =========================================================================== AUSCERT External Security Bulletin Redistribution ESB-2000.030 -- HP SECURITY BULLETIN HPSBUX0002-111 Sec. Vulnerability with Ignite on Trusted systems 21 February 2000 =========================================================================== Hewlett-Packard has released the following bulletin concerning a vulnerability with Ignite on 'trusted systems' on HP-9000 Series 700/800 running release HP-UX 11.X only. If a system image of a trusted system is created with Ignite-UX and /etc/passwd is not saved in the image (the default behaviour for Ignite-UX) blank password fields may appear in a the /etc/passwd file of a trusted system restored using such an system image. This vulnerability may allow users to gain additional privileges. - --------------------------BEGIN INCLUDED TEXT-------------------- Document ID: HPSBUX0002-111 Date Loaded: 20000216 Title: Sec. Vulnerability with Ignite on Trusted systems - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- HEWLETT-PACKARD COMPANY SECURITY ADVISORY: #00111, 17 Feb 2000 - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- The information in the following Security Advisory 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 Advisory as soon as possible. - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- PROBLEM: Trusted systems may have vulnerabilities if a password field in /etc/passwd is blank. PLATFORM: HP-9000 Series700/800 running release HP-UX 11.X only. DAMAGE: Increase of privileges. SOLUTION: Verify that all entries in /etc/passwd have "*" in the password field if the system is trusted. - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- I. A. Background Each password field in /etc/passwd should be "*" in a trusted system. This is normally handled automatically. One way for the password field to be set to a blank is to create a system image of a trusted system with Ignite-UX and not save /etc/passwd. By default Ignite-UX omits /etc/passwd. B. Fixing the problem In a trusted system if the system or the /etc/passwd file has been restored, verify that the password fields in /etc/passwd are "*". If Ignite-UX is used to create an image of a trusted system, _override_the_default_ so that /etc/passwd is saved in the image. See man(1M) make_sys_image and note the -f file option. C. 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Updated daily, this matrix categorizes security patches by platform/OS release, and by bulletin topic. The security patch matrix is also available via anonymous ftp: us-ffs.external.hp.com ~ftp/export/patches/hp-ux_patch_matrix D. 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. Permission is granted for copying and circulating this Advisory to Hewlett-Packard (HP) customers (or the Internet community) for the purpose of alerting them to problems, if and only if, the Advisory 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. ________________________________________________________________________ - -----End of Document ID: HPSBUX0002-111-------------------------------------- - --------------------------END INCLUDED TEXT-------------------- This security bulletin is provided as a service to AusCERT's members. As AusCERT did not write the document quoted above, AusCERT has had no control over its content. The decision to use any or all of this information is the responsibility of each user or organisation, and should be done so in accordance with site policies and procedures. NOTE: This is only the original release of the security bulletin. It may not be updated when updates to the original are made. If downloading at a later date, it is recommended that the bulletin is retrieved directly from the original authors to ensure that the information is still current. Contact information for the authors of the original document is included in the Security Bulletin above. If you have any questions or need further information, please contact them directly. Previous advisories and external security bulletins can be retrieved from: http://www.auscert.org.au/Information/advisories.html If you believe that your system has been compromised, contact AusCERT or your representative in FIRST (Forum of Incident Response and Security Teams). Internet Email: auscert@auscert.org.au Facsimile: (07) 3365 7031 Telephone: (07) 3365 4417 (International: +61 7 3365 4417) AusCERT personnel answer during Queensland business hours which are GMT+10:00 (AEST). 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