mtr port contains a local root exploit

-----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE-----

===========================================================================
              AUSCERT External Security Bulletin Redistribution
                             
                      ESB-2000.049 -- FreeBSD-SA-00:09
                   mtr port contains a local root exploit

                                20 March 2000

===========================================================================

The FreeBSD Security Team has released the following security advisory
describing a vulnerability in the mtr (Multi Traceroute) program.

This vulnerability may be exploited by a local user to gain root
privilege on affected systems.

- --------------------------BEGIN INCLUDED TEXT--------------------

- -----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE-----

=============================================================================
FreeBSD-SA-00:09                                           Security Advisory
                                                                FreeBSD, Inc.

Topic:		mtr port contains a local root exploit.

Category:       ports
Module:         mtr
Announced:      2000-03-15
Affects:        Ports collection before the correction date.
Corrected:      2000-03-07 (included in FreeBSD 4.0-RELEASE)
FreeBSD only:   NO

I.   Background

mtr ("Multi Traceroute") combines the functionality of the "traceroute" and
"ping" programs into a single network diagnostic tool.

II.  Problem Description

The mtr program (versions 0.41 and below) fails to correctly drop setuid
root privileges during operation, allowing a local root compromise.

The mtr port is not installed by default, nor is it "part of FreeBSD" as
such: it is part of the FreeBSD ports collection, which contains over 3100
third-party applications in a ready-to-install format. The FreeBSD
4.0-RELEASE ports collection is not vulnerable to this problem.

FreeBSD makes no claim about the security of these third-party
applications, although an effort is underway to provide a security audit of
the most security-critical ports.

III. Impact

A local user can exploit the security hole to obtain root privileges.

If you have not chosen to install the mtr port/package, then your system is
not vulnerable.

IV.  Workaround

1) Remove the mtr port if you have installed it.

2) Disable the setuid bit - run the following command as root:

chmod u-s /usr/local/sbin/mtr

This will mean non-root users cannot make use of the program, since it
requires root privileges to properly run.

V.   Solution

1) Upgrade your entire ports collection and rebuild the mtr port.

2) Reinstall a new package obtained from:

ftp://ftp.FreeBSD.org/pub/FreeBSD/ports/i386/packages-3-stable/net/mtr-0.42.tgz
ftp://ftp.FreeBSD.org/pub/FreeBSD/ports/i386/packages-4-current/net/mtr-0.42.tgz
ftp://ftp.FreeBSD.org/pub/FreeBSD/ports/alpha/packages-4-current/net/mtr-0.42.tgz

Note: it may be several days before the updated packages are available.

3) download a new port skeleton for the mtr port from:

http://www.freebsd.org/ports/

and use it to rebuild the port.

4) Use the portcheckout utility to automate option (3) above. The
portcheckout port is available in /usr/ports/devel/portcheckout or the
package can be obtained from:

ftp://ftp.freebsd.org/pub/FreeBSD/ports/packages/devel/portcheckout-1.0.tgz

- -----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE-----
Version: 2.6.2

iQCVAwUBOM/J3FUuHi5z0oilAQFdjQP+MCxSn1WYvRehaxky8xnOLP8sAOiLvxLf
DG3emT6hgG7IFKTHNQ/KvHE5M9Y4/frk1tJGKVb/RKEbpbDDF3mmN0eq6S2B2Qda
TB4YjbaLVAnFKVhFcbZjVfc4YTtutNgl7xd/4bvXennki77oQiO5T3VRNnIXkjD1
NUk4XQDyTQ4=
=Rrxf
- -----END PGP SIGNATURE-----

- --------------------------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).
		On call after hours for emergencies.

-----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE-----
Version: 2.6.3i
Charset: noconv
Comment: ftp://ftp.auscert.org.au/pub/auscert/AUSCERT_PGP.key

iQCVAwUBONiZAyh9+71yA2DNAQGxmQP+NaXKAmVpRUw4m13rct3yrRADasxPzhtT
qVz95CGBLVwJQPJOxBAjDTZmxOom2sLPsaXaxFRCj9XLqepf0DnJp/RK6u6uMIDe
r52BjrS93ToHhHGmsEQJIpd9oOjSmUX4xRAI3Pk/1IRCFgBqtgUw7ugt/hs9SYYv
jbmYouHzj3Q=
=Bcwj
-----END PGP SIGNATURE-----