IRIX talkd vulnerability

From: SGI Security Coordinator (agent99at_private)
Date: Mon Jun 10 2002 - 10:43:10 PDT

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    _____________________________________________________________________________
    
                              SGI Security Advisory
    
            Title:      talkd vulnerability
            Number:     20020603-01-I
            Date:       June 10, 2002
            Reference:  CVE-2000-1010
    _____________________________________________________________________________
    
    - -----------------------
    - --- Issue Specifics ---
    - -----------------------
    
    It's been reported that the /usr/etc/talkd daemon contains a format string
    vulnerability.  By carefully constructing arguments to talkd, it is possible
    to exploit the system, either through DNS or a remote client.
    
    More details are available at the following URL:
    
      http://packetstorm.freezer-burn.org/advisories/misc/talkd.format.txt
    
    SGI has investigated the issue and recommends the following steps for
    neutralizing the exposure.  It is HIGHLY RECOMMENDED that these measures be
    implemented on ALL vulnerable SGI systems.
    
    These issues have been corrected in the 6.5.10 and later releases of IRIX.
    
    
    - --------------
    - --- Impact ---
    - --------------
    
    The /usr/etc/talkd daemon is installed by default on IRIX 6.5 systems as
    part of eoe.sw.base.
    
    To determine the version of IRIX you are running, execute the following
    command:
    
      # uname -R
    
    That will return a result similar to the following:
    
      # 6.5 6.5.15f
    
    The first number ("6.5") is the release name, the second ("6.5.15f" in this
    case) is the extended release name.  The extended release name is the
    "version" we refer to throughout this document.
    
    To see if talkd is installed, execute the following command:
    
      # versions long | grep talkd
      f 48692    37 eoe.sw.base             usr/etc/talkd
    
    If the command returns a line similar to the above, then talkd is installed,
    and depending on the level of IRIX you are running (see below), the system
    may be vulnerable to this exploit.
    
    No local account is required, this vulnerability may be exploited by a
    remote user.
    
    This vulnerability was assigned the following CVE:
    http://cve.mitre.org/cgi-bin/cvename.cgi?name=CVE-2000-1010
    
    
    - ----------------------------
    - --- Temporary Workaround ---
    - ----------------------------
    
    SGI understands that there are times when upgrading the operating system or
    installing patches are inconvenient or not possible.  In those instances, we
    recommend the following workaround.  Please note that while this workaround
    is in place, the services of talkd will no longer be available.
    
    Disable talkd by editing the /etc/inetd.conf file and commenting out the
    entry for talkd.  When talkd is enabled, the line looks like this:
    
      $ grep talkd /etc/inetd.conf
      ntalk   dgram   udp     wait    root    /usr/etc/talkd          talkd
    
    Kill any existing talkd processes, then edit /etc/inetd.conf with your
    preferred text editor and put a "#" as the first character of that line,
    save the file, and issue a hangup signal to inetd to cause it to reread
    /etc/inetd.conf:
    
      # killall talkd
    
      # vi /etc/inetd.conf
    
      Change this:
    
        ntalk   dgram   udp     wait    root    /usr/etc/talkd          talkd
    
      To this:
    
        #ntalk   dgram   udp     wait    root    /usr/etc/talkd          talkd
    
      # killall -HUP inetd
    
    It is not necessary to reboot the system after making this change.
    
    
    - ----------------
    - --- Solution ---
    - ----------------
    
    SGI has not provided patches for this vulnerability. Our recommendation is
    to upgrade to IRIX 6.5.10 or a later version of IRIX (later versions are
    preferred).
    
    
       OS Version     Vulnerable?     Patch #      Other Actions
       ----------     -----------     -------      -------------
       IRIX 3.x        unknown                     Note 1
       IRIX 4.x        unknown                     Note 1
       IRIX 5.x        unknown                     Note 1
       IRIX 6.0.x      unknown                     Note 1
       IRIX 6.1        unknown                     Note 1
       IRIX 6.2        unknown                     Note 1
       IRIX 6.3        unknown                     Note 1
       IRIX 6.4        unknown                     Note 1
       IRIX 6.5          yes                       Notes 2 & 3
       IRIX 6.5.1        yes                       Notes 2 & 3
       IRIX 6.5.2        yes                       Notes 2 & 3
       IRIX 6.5.3        yes                       Notes 2 & 3
       IRIX 6.5.4        yes                       Notes 2 & 3
       IRIX 6.5.5        yes                       Notes 2 & 3
       IRIX 6.5.6        yes                       Notes 2 & 3
       IRIX 6.5.7        yes                       Notes 2 & 3
       IRIX 6.5.8        yes                       Notes 2 & 3
       IRIX 6.5.9        yes                       Notes 2 & 3
       IRIX 6.5.10        no
       IRIX 6.5.11        no
       IRIX 6.5.12        no
       IRIX 6.5.13        no
       IRIX 6.5.14        no
       IRIX 6.5.15        no
       IRIX 6.5.16        no
    
       NOTES
    
         1) This version of the IRIX operating has been retired. Upgrade to an
            actively supported IRIX operating system.  See
            http://support.sgi.com/irix/news/index.html#policy for more
            information.
    
         2) If you have not received an IRIX 6.5.X CD for IRIX 6.5, contact your
            SGI Support Provider or URL: http://support.sgi.com/irix/swupdates/
    
         3) Upgrade to IRIX 6.5.10 or later.
    
    
    - ------------------------
    - --- Acknowledgments ----
    - ------------------------
    
    SGI wishes to thank GOBBLES and the users of the Internet Community at large
    for their assistance in this matter.
    
    
    - -------------
    - --- Links ---
    - -------------
    
    SGI Security Advisories can be found at:
    http://www.sgi.com/support/security/ and
    ftp://patches.sgi.com/support/free/security/advisories/
    
    SGI Security Patches can be found at:
    http://www.sgi.com/support/security/ and
    ftp://patches.sgi.com/support/free/security/patches/
    
    SGI patches for IRIX can be found at the following patch servers:
    http://support.sgi.com/irix/ and ftp://patches.sgi.com/
    
    SGI freeware updates for IRIX can be found at:
    http://freeware.sgi.com/
    
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    http://oss.sgi.com/projects/sgilinux-combined/download/security-fixes/
    
    SGI patches for Windows NT or 2000 can be found at:
    http://support.sgi.com/nt/
    
    IRIX 5.2-6.4 Recommended/Required Patch Sets can be found at:
    http://support.sgi.com/irix/ and ftp://patches.sgi.com/support/patchset/
    
    IRIX 6.5 Maintenance Release Streams can be found at:
    http://support.sgi.com/colls/patches/tools/relstream/index.html
    
    IRIX 6.5 Software Update CDs can be obtained from:
    http://support.sgi.com/irix/swupdates/
    
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    - -----------------------------------------
    
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