ASI Oracle Security Alert: CHOWN Path Environment Variable Vulnerability

From: Aaron C. Newman (aaron@newman-family.com)
Date: Fri Nov 30 2001 - 12:40:44 PST

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    CHOWN Path Environment Variable Vulnerability
    
    For additional details, the official advisories from Oracle
    Corporation can be downloaded from:
    http://otn.oracle.com/deploy/security/pdf/dbsmp_alert.pdf
    
    Summary:
    The vulnerability only affects Oracle 8.0.5 and 8.1.5.
    The dbsnmp file executes the CHOWN and CHGRP commands on several
    files. It references these files without fully-qualifying the path.
    This allows an attacker to set the PATH environment variable to run
    the CHOWN and CHGRP commands on the attacker's version of the files.
    This vulnerability can result in an attacker gaining root access if
    the dbsnmp is setuid root.
    
    Fix: Remove the setuid bit from the file (chmod -s dbsnmp) or upgrade
    the database to Oracle release 8.1.6 or higher. It does not appear
    that Oracle will be releasing a patch for this vulnerability.
    
    Background:
    This vulnerability is based on the Oracle Enterprise Manager
    Intelligent Agent. This issue exists because the executable file for
    this process, dbsnmp, runs with the setuid bit enabled. That means
    this problems ONLY EXIST ON UNIX (OR LINUX) VERSIONS OF ORACLE. If
    you are not using the Intelligent Agent, you should remove the setuid
    bit from this process. You can also avoid this issue by restricting
    access to the Oracle operating system files. Only database
    administrators should have access to these files.
    
    The Oracle Intelligent Agent performs the following functions:
    -Provides local services or calling operating system dependent
    services to interact locally with the managed targets.
    -Checks for events, and queuing the resulting event reports for
    Oracle Enterprise Manager.
    -Runs Oracle Enterprise Manager jobs, collecting their results and
    output, and/or queuing the results as required.
    -Cancels jobs or events as directed by the Console or other
    applications.
    -Handles requests to send SNMP traps for events if SNMP is supported
    on the Intelligent Agent's platform.
    
    
    Thank you,
    supportat_private
    Application Security, Inc.
    phone: 212-490-6022
    -Protection Where It Counts-
    
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    www.appsecinc.com
    
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