-----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE----- =============================================================================== Security Advisory CERT-NL =============================================================================== Author/Source : Teun Nijssen Index : S-98-45 Distribution : World Page : 1 Classification: External Version: 1 Subject : SGI IRIX 6.4 ioconfig and disk_bandwidth Date : 21-Jul-98 =============================================================================== By courtesy of Silicon Graphics Inc. we received information on a vulnerability in ioconfig and disk_bandwidth ============================================================================== Silicon Graphics Inc. Security Advisory Title: IRIX 6.4 ioconfig(1M) and disk_bandwidth(1M) Vulnerability Number: 19980701-01-P Date: July 20, 1998 _____________________________________________________________________________ ------------------------ ---- Issue Specifics --- ------------------------ The IRIX ioconfig(1M) program assigns logical controller numbers to all I/O devices on a Silicon Graphics Origin or Onyx2 system. The IRIX disk_bandwidth(1M) program is used to determine the number of I/O operations that can be performed on a given disk device on an Origin or Onyx2 system. Both programs are normally only used by IRIX System administrators. Unfortunately, a vulnerability has been discovered in both ioconfig(1M) and disk_bandwidth(1M) programs that can lead to a root compromise of the system. Silicon Graphics Inc. 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. This issue will be corrected in future releases of IRIX. --------------- ---- Impact --- --------------- The ioconfig(1M)/disk_bandwidth(1M) programs are installed by default on all IRIX 6.4 S2MP Origin and Onyx2 systems. A local user account on the vulnerable system is required in order to exploit the ioconfig(1M)/disk_bandwidth(1M) vulnerability locally and remotely. This vulnerability has been publically discussed in Usenet newsgroups and mailing lists. ----------------- ---- Solution --- ----------------- The steps below can be used to remove the vulnerability by restricting permissions of the ioconfig(1M)/disk_bandwidth(1M) programs to the root user. 1) Become the root user on the system. % /bin/su - Password: # 2) Verify the vulnerable ioconfig(1M)/disk_bandwidth(1M) programs are installed. Only IRIX 6.4 S2MP for Origin/Onyx2 is vulnerable. # uname -R 6.4 S2MP+OCTANE 3) Remove permissions on the vulnerable ioconfig(1M) and disk_bandwidth(1M) programs. # /bin/chmod 500 /sbin/ioconfig # /bin/chmod 500 /sbin/disk_bandwidth ************ *** NOTE *** ************ Removing permissions from the vulnerable programs will prevent non-root users from accessing ioconfig(1M) and disk_bandwidth(1M). 4) Verify the new permissions on the program. Note that the program size may be different depending on release. # ls -al /sbin/ioconfig /usr/sbin/disk_bandwidth -r-x------ 1 root sys 34024 Feb 20 16:53 ioconfig -r-x------ 1 root sys 17604 Dec 18 1997 disk_bandwidth 5) Return to previous user level. # exit % ------------------------- ---- Acknowledgments --- ------------------------- Silicon Graphics wishes to thank the Internet community at large for their assistance in this matter. ============================================================================== CERT-NL is the Computer Emergency Response Team for SURFnet customers. SURFnet is the Dutch network for educational, research and related institutes. CERT-NL is a member of the Forum of Incident Response and Security Teams (FIRST). 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