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-----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE----- =========================================================================== AUSCERT External Security Bulletin Redistribution ESB-2000.166 -- FreeBSD-SA-00:32.bitchx bitchx port contains client-side vulnerability 7 July 2000 =========================================================================== AusCERT Security Bulletin Summary --------------------------------- Product: bitchx Vendor: FreeBSD Ports Collection Operating System: FreeBSD Linux Unix Platform: N/A Impact: Denial of Service Access Required: Remote - --------------------------BEGIN INCLUDED TEXT-------------------- - -----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE----- ============================================================================= FreeBSD-SA-00:32 Security Advisory FreeBSD, Inc. Topic: bitchx port contains client-side vulnerability Category: ports Module: bitchx Announced: 2000-07-05 Affects: Ports collection. Corrected: 2000-07-03 Vendor status: Patch released FreeBSD only: NO I. Background BitchX is a popular IRC client. II. Problem Description The bitchx client incorrectly parses string-formatting operators included as part of channel invitation messages sent by remote IRC users. This can cause the local client to crash, and may possibly present the ability to execute arbitrary code as the local user. The bitchx 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 3400 third-party applications in a ready-to-install format. The ports collections shipped with FreeBSD 4.0 and 3.5 contain this problem since it was discovered after the release. 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 Remote IRC users can cause the local client to crash, and possibly execute code as the local user. If you have not chosen to install the bitchx port/package, then your system is not vulnerable to this problem. IV. Workaround Issue the following bitchx command (e.g. as part of a startup script): /ignore * invites which will disable processing of channel invitation messages. V. Solution One of the following: 1) Upgrade your entire ports collection and rebuild the bitchx port. 2) Deinstall the old package and install a new package dated after the correction date, obtained from: ftp://ftp.FreeBSD.org/pub/FreeBSD/ports/i386/packages-3-stable/irc/bitchx-1.0c16.tar.gz ftp://ftp.FreeBSD.org/pub/FreeBSD/ports/i386/packages-4-stable/irc/bitchx-1.0c16.tar.gz ftp://ftp.FreeBSD.org/pub/FreeBSD/ports/alpha/packages-4-stable/irc/bitchx-1.0c16.tar.gz ftp://ftp.FreeBSD.org/pub/FreeBSD/ports/i386/packages-5-current/irc/bitchx-1.0c16.tar.gz ftp://ftp.FreeBSD.org/pub/FreeBSD/ports/alpha/packages-5-current/irc/bitchx-1.0c16.tar.gz NOTE: It may be several days before updated packages are available. Be sure to check the file creation date on the package, because the version number of the software has not changed. 3) download a new port skeleton for the bitchx 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 iQCVAwUBOWGvPlUuHi5z0oilAQGEQAP+MbpDIPmejoZUcpVCpIBFP+2LwmR/ouwu LMuDVgY5l3kaWNIypTNAbMVPDZFx1l3+LEUJfurBLydpH8PnB17C7tE+uPXpNDzA ph3jjHXazN8DvvdYCD6EcEXccgGIWREz+OUPsH4VZtqC0g84Lt7tpZwBFZ+Fh2Py gjxO4c2fPE8= =B4nR - -----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 iQCVAwUBOXXT9Ch9+71yA2DNAQGACwQAnh0SkLjDsKV8ozwz/nBg4R5v0tOlC3bj Hoq6DZE6NHED41rttqEbURtTj5lL7vcmoEDul5ChHjyFh/VaA1WKxTqWelQAXK7+ ocabaa9gbg8jDrasCOaaTAe39o5v3i0efjuPDK04y4qFhYzx2Ts9emSgwXb4ag5H MO9SHtizoMg= =oLin -----END PGP SIGNATURE-----