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

===========================================================================
              AUSCERT External Security Bulletin Redistribution
                             
                      ESB-2000.050 -- FreeBSD-SA-00:10
              orville-write port contains local root compromise

                                20 March 2000

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

The FreeBSD Security Team has released the following security advisory
describing a vulnerability in the orville-write package which is a
replacement for the write(1) command. The 'huh' command was incorrectly
configured with setuid root privilege.

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-00:10                                           Security Advisory
                                                                FreeBSD, Inc.

Topic:		orville-write port contains local root compromise.

Category:       ports
Module:         orville-write
Announced:      2000-03-15
Affects:        Ports collection before the correction date.
Corrected:      2000-03-09
FreeBSD only:   Yes

I.   Background

Orville-write is a replacement for the write(1) command, which
provides improved control over message delivery and other features.

II.  Problem Description

One of the commands installed by the port is incorrectly installed
with setuid root permissions. The 'huh' command should not have any
special privileges since it is intended to be run by the local user to
view his saved messages.

The orville-write 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 a buffer overflow in the 'huh' utility to
obtain root privileges.

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

IV.  Workaround

Remove the orville-write port if you have installed it.

V.   Solution

Remove the setuid bit from the huh utility, by executing the following
command as root:

chmod u-s /usr/local/bin/huh

It is not necessary to reinstall the orville-write port, although this
can be done in one of the following ways if desired:

1) Upgrade your entire ports collection and rebuild the orville-write port.

2) Reinstall a new package dated after the correction date, obtained from:

ftp://ftp.FreeBSD.org/pub/FreeBSD/ports/i386/packages-3-stable/misc/orville-write-2.41a.tgz
ftp://ftp.FreeBSD.org/pub/FreeBSD/ports/i386/packages-4-current/misc/orville-write-2.41a.tgz
ftp://ftp.FreeBSD.org/pub/FreeBSD/ports/alpha/packages-4-current/misc/orville-write-2.41a.tgz

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

3) download a new port skeleton for the orville-write 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/KWlUuHi5z0oilAQHk3AP+PEWNZ95ou8Oyf0nFzgAvjRCc4T060cJf
8qncBFmbWKvl/VHGJnj+u5HPE2LciZb/SdQxH0Ibuvm45hjt7umRrNcHQABmhtYV
9kG2k2cG+w9QtPnWQUtk7UDAQ2nmbyvQBsUJI+wrILoTHaKU1nLBivzzQbZPX9Nr
YTNtkrInpV0=
=c84W
- -----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

iQCVAwUBONiZCSh9+71yA2DNAQHQmQP+Lt7sV+GkmGfJw+bCWzNj+4C8LtQQJLD3
X99SJ4OHC5LzXyQKB+0sdarocoBSJfKnCAVbvhj74ZC1ci2KUqRhnqOyLkbJi7IT
hWfxz1/curJYwTBb4x8LS93peJ2JgBFReP+42iAPsOZ1VV2jmgBf1AehyCP4Wtel
0onb2AM5bRY=
=E78O
-----END PGP SIGNATURE-----