Published:
01 August 2006
Protect yourself against future threats.
-----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE----- Hash: SHA1 =========================================================================== AUSCERT External Security Bulletin Redistribution ESB-2006.0530 -- [VMware ESX] VMware ESX Server Password Disclosure in Log issue 1 August 2006 =========================================================================== AusCERT Security Bulletin Summary --------------------------------- Product: VMware ESX prior to 2.5.3 upgrade patch 2 VMware ESX prior to 2.1.3 upgrade patch 1 VMware ESX prior to 2.0.2 upgrade patch 1 Publisher: Corsaire Impact: Access Privileged Data Access: Existing Account CVE Names: CVE-2005-3620 Original Bulletin: http://www.corsaire.com/advisories/c051114-003.txt - --------------------------BEGIN INCLUDED TEXT-------------------- - -- Corsaire Security Advisory -- Title: VMware ESX Server Password Disclosure in Log issue Date: 14.11.05 Application: VMware ESX prior to 2.5.3 upgrade patch 2 VMware ESX prior to 2.1.3 upgrade patch 1 VMware ESX prior to 2.0.2 upgrade patch 1 Environment: VMware ESX Author: Stephen de Vries [stephen.de.vries@corsaire.com] Audience: General distribution Reference: c051114-003 - -- Scope -- The aim of this document is to clearly define an issue that exists with the VMware ESX Server product [1] that will allow a local attacker to read users' (including root's) passwords under certain conditions. - -- History -- Discovered: 11.11.05 (Stephen de Vries) Vendor notified via client: 15.11.05 Vendor notified directly: 19.05.06 Document released: 31.07.06 - -- Overview -- VMware ESX Server is described [1] as virtual infrastructure software for partitioning, consolidating and managing servers in mission-critical environments. The software provides a virtualization layer that allows multiple x86 based operating systems to run on the same hardware concurrently. The ESX Server product differs from other VMware products in that it does not require a "host" operating system to be provided by the user. Instead, it uses a custom x86 kernel as the host, along with a customised Linux operating system as a "console O/S". VMware ESX Server includes a number of network services and a web application, called the "VMware Management Interface" that can be used to perform remote administration of the system. - -- Analysis -- One of the functions provided by the Management Interface is to change passwords. Through an HTML form, the user is requested to enter and confirm their new password. This data is sent through an HTTP GET request to the server. For example, when changing the root user's password to "test", the following request would be sent: https://address-of-vmware-server/sx- users?op=setUsr&ag=&rg=&nm=root&hd=%2Froot&pw=test&pwc=test&grpSlct= This request along with the passwords is logged in the Apache access logs: /var/log/httpd/access_log and /var/log/httpd/ssl_request_log. It is also rotated into the corresponding backup logs. The permissions on these files permit world read access. This would allow all local users of the system to view the files and consequently all passwords that were set using the Management Interface. - -- Recommendations -- Upgrade to a version of the VMware ESX product that does not exhibit this issue. - -- CVE -- The Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures (CVE) project has assigned the name CVE-2005-3620 to this issue. This is a candidate for inclusion in the CVE list (http://cve.mitre.org), which standardises names for security problems. - -- References -- [1] http://www.vmware.com/products/esx/ - -- Revision -- a. Initial release. b. Minor edits. c. Released. - -- Distribution -- The information contained within this advisory is supplied "as-is" with no warranties or guarantees of fitness of use or otherwise. Corsaire accepts no responsibility for any damage caused by the use or misuse of this information. - -- Disclaimer -- The information contained within this advisory is supplied "as-is" with no warranties or guarantees of fitness of use or otherwise. Corsaire accepts no responsibility for any damage caused by the use or misuse of this information. - -- About Corsaire -- Corsaire are a leading information security consultancy, founded in 1997 in Guildford, Surrey, UK. Corsaire bring innovation, integrity and analytical rigour to every job, which means fast and dramatic security performance improvements. Our services centre on the delivery of information security planning, assessment, implementation, management and vulnerability research. A free guide to selecting a security assessment supplier is available at http://www.penetration-testing.com Copyright 2005-2006 Corsaire Limited. All rights reserved. - --------------------------END INCLUDED TEXT-------------------- You have received this e-mail bulletin as a result of your organisation's registration with AusCERT. The mailing list you are subscribed to is maintained within your organisation, so if you do not wish to continue receiving these bulletins you should contact your local IT manager. If you do not know who that is, please send an email to auscert@auscert.org.au and we will forward your request to the appropriate person. NOTE: Third Party Rights 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 follow or act on information or advice contained in this security bulletin is the responsibility of each user or organisation, and should be considered in accordance with your organisation's site policies and procedures. AusCERT takes no responsibility for consequences which may arise from following or acting on information or advice contained in this security bulletin. 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 author's website 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/render.html?cid=1980 If you believe that your computer system has been compromised or attacked in any way, we encourage you to let us know by completing the secure National IT Incident Reporting Form at: http://www.auscert.org.au/render.html?it=3192 =========================================================================== Australian Computer Emergency Response Team The University of Queensland Brisbane Qld 4072 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 member emergencies only. =========================================================================== -----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE----- Comment: http://www.auscert.org.au/render.html?it=1967 iQCVAwUBRM78Aih9+71yA2DNAQKxKgP9FDcHPItsw3u7b2jSYPrGs8CkGTqgqQeJ qvCEcDtcRSVZzAUyvZtHvltqiA9j0mfOsy+/uT/sCqaF20fRRvbDOxzhRzZbEuZY /ui5BPriuQQiXlRAa9Vi5EEESEijRU0RoVmTzwc+vtubp9wGXfPtfkbDAu4HdQ8H Nr271TDD90Y= =yVtT -----END PGP SIGNATURE-----