Re: snmp problems still alive...

From: Damir Rajnovic (drajnoviat_private)
Date: Fri Mar 10 2000 - 10:23:30 PST

  • Next message: krahmerat_private-POTSDAM.DE: "TESO advisory -- atsadc"

    Hello,
    
    Not so long ago there was discussion on this list regarding
    problems with SNMP and this is our contribution to it.
    
    With this I will fulfill a request of the customer who brought
    this to our attention.
    
    Cheers,
    
    Gaus
    ---------
    Simple Network Management Protocol Version 3 (SNMPv3) is an
    interoperable standards-based protocol for network management.
    This version is first introduced in Cisco IOS 12.0(3)T.
    
    In all images which implement the new SNMPv3 engine (12.0(3)T
    and above and images based on this), the new SNMP engine now
    requires that a community string be defined (if used).
    
    Example: If user enters this command:
    
    snmp-server host <ip-address> foonly
    
    then the community string must be defined first with the
    command:
    
    snmp-server community <community> [ro|rw]
    
    e.g.
    
    snmp-server community foonly ro
    
    If this required line is not present, then it will be inserted
    automatically, using the password defined in snmp-server host
    command. The automatically generated snmp-server community line
    can not be erased from configuration file. It will be
    automatically generated every time.
    
    This requirement was not well documented, but it is indeed a
    requirement of the new engine and it is intended behavior. The
    updated documentation can be found at
    
    http://www.cisco.com/univercd/cc/td/doc/product/software/
    ios120/120newft/120t/120t3/snmp3.htm
    
    (URL is wrapped)
    
    In the case where the customer wishes to use a unique community
    string with the "snmp-server host" command but does NOT want
    that string to be valid for SNMP polling, simply define that
    community string with an access-list which specifies "deny any"
    
    e.g.
    
    snmp-server community foonly ro 10
    snmp-server host <ip-address> foonly
    access-list 10 deny any
    
    If the administrator is not aware of this and if the configuration
    is not carefully inspected after every change, this may lead to
    using a weak password for the community string. When snmptrap
    daemons do not require a community string, the administrator may
    be tempted to use easily guessable passwords.
    
    ==============
    Damir Rajnovic <psirtat_private>, PSIRT Incident Manager, Cisco Systems
    <http://www.cisco.com/warp/public/707/sec_incident_response.shtml>
    Phone: +44 7715 546 033
    4 The Square, Stockley Park, Uxbridge, MIDDLESEX UB11 1BN, GB
    ==============
    There is no insolvable problems. Question remains: can you
    accept the solution?
    



    This archive was generated by hypermail 2b30 : Fri Apr 13 2001 - 15:39:35 PDT