Re: [VulnWatch] iDEFENSE Security Advisory 02.08.05: IBM AIX auditselect Local Format String Vulnerability

From: Shiva Persaud (shivapd@private)
Date: Tue Feb 08 2005 - 16:43:14 PST


The IBM advisory for this issue:

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IBM SECURITY ADVISORY

First Issued: Tue Feb  8 18:07:01 CST 2005

===========================================================================
                           VULNERABILITY SUMMARY

VULNERABILITY:      A format string vulnerability in the auditselect
                    command may allow a local user in the audit group to
                    gain root privileges.

PLATFORMS:          AIX 5.1, 5.2 and 5.3.

SOLUTION:           Apply the workaround or APARs as described below.

THREAT:             A local user may gain root privileges.

CERT VU Number:     N/A
CVE Number:         N/A
===========================================================================
                           DETAILED INFORMATION


I.  Description
===============

A format string vulnerability in the auditselect command was discovered.
This vulnerability may allow a local user in the audit group to gain root
privileges.

The command affected by this issue ships as part of the bos.rte.security
fileset. To determine if this fileset is installed, execute the following
command:

# lslpp -L bos.rte.security

If the fileset is installed it will be listed along with its version
information, state, type and a description.


II. Impact
==========
A local user in the audit group may gain root privileges.

III.  Solutions
===============

A. Official Fix

IBM provides the following fixes:

      APAR number for AIX 5.1.0: IY67802 (available approx. 03/23/05)
      APAR number for AIX 5.2.0: IY67472 (available approx. 04/15/05)
      APAR number for AIX 5.3.0: IY67519 (available approx. 04/15/05)

NOTE: Affected customers are urged to upgrade to 5.1.0, 5.2.0 or 5.3.0 at
the latest maintenance level.

B. Workaround

Setting the file mode bits to 500 will allow only the root user to execute
the auditselect command. This can be done by executing the following
command as root:

# chmod 500 /usr/sbin/auditselect

Verify that the file mode bits have been changed to 500:

# ls -la /usr/sbin/auditselect
- -r-x------  1 root audit 20778 2002-09-15 22:09 /usr/sbin/auditselect

IV. Obtaining Fixes
===================
AIX Version 5 APARs can be downloaded from:

     http://www-1.ibm.com/servers/eserver/support/pseries/aixfixes.html

Security related Emergency Fixes can be downloaded from:

     ftp://aix.software.ibm.com/aix/efixes/security


V.  Acknowledgments
====================
This vulnerability was reported by iDEFENSE.


VI.  Contact Information
========================

If you would like to receive AIX Security Advisories via email, please 
visit:
     https://techsupport.services.ibm.com/server/pseries.subscriptionSvcs

Comments regarding the content of this announcement can be directed to:

     security-alert@private

To request the PGP public key that can be used to communicate securely
with the AIX Security Team send email to security-alert@private
with a subject of "get key". The key can also be downloaded from a
PGP Public Key Server. The key id is 0x9391C1F2.

Please contact your local IBM AIX support center for any assistance.

eServer is a trademark of International Business Machines Corporation.
IBM, AIX and pSeries are registered trademarks of International Business
Machines Corporation. All other trademarks are property of their
respective holders.
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