-----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE----- =============================================================================== Security Advisory CERT-NL =============================================================================== Author/Source : Niels den Otter Index : S-98-79 Distribution : World Page : 1 Classification: External Version: 1 Subject : SunOS vulnerability in passwd Date : 18-Dec-98 =============================================================================== By courtesy of Sun Microsystems we received information on a vulnerability in Sun's passwd. A vulnerability has been discovered in the passwd utility which could be exploited to create a denial of service. CERT-NL recommends to install the patches as advised by Sun. ________________________________________________________________________________ Sun Microsystems, Inc. Security Bulletin Bulletin Number: #00182 Date: December 17, 1998 Cross-Ref: Title: passwd ________________________________________________________________________________ The information contained in this Security Bulletin is provided "AS IS." Sun makes no warranties of any kind whatsoever with respect to the information contained in this Security Bulletin. ALL EXPRESS OR IMPLIED CONDITIONS, REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES, INCLUDING ANY WARRANTY OF NON-INFRINGEMENT OR IMPLIED WARRANTY OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, ARE HEREBY DISCLAIMED AND EXCLUDED TO THE EXTENT ALLOWED BY APPLICABLE LAW. IN NO EVENT WILL SUN MICROSYSTEMS, INC. BE LIABLE FOR ANY LOST REVENUE, PROFIT OR DATA, OR FOR DIRECT, SPECIAL, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, INCIDENTAL OR PUNITIVE DAMAGES HOWEVER CAUSED AND REGARDLESS OF ANY THEORY OF LIABILITY ARISING OUT OF THE USE OF OR INABILITY TO USE THE INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THIS SECURITY BULLETIN, EVEN IF SUN MICROSYSTEMS, INC. HAS BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES. If any of the above provisions are held to be in violation of applicable law, void, or unenforceable in any jurisdiction, then such provisions are waived to the extent necessary for this disclaimer to be otherwise enforceable in such jurisdiction. ________________________________________________________________________________ 1. Background The passwd command changes passwords and password attributes. A vulnerability has been discovered in the passwd utility which could be exploited to create a denial of service. 2. Affected Supported Versions Solaris(tm) versions: 2.6, 2.6_x86, 2.5.1, 2.5.1_x86, 2.5, 2.5_x86, 2.4, 2.4_x86 and 2.3 3. Recommendations Sun recommends that you install the respective patches immediately on affected systems. Operating System Patch ID _________________ _________ Solaris 2.6 106271-04 Solaris 2.6_x86 106272-04 Solaris 2.5.1 104433-09 Solaris 2.5.1_x86 104434-08 Solaris 2.5 103178-09 Solaris 2.5_x86 103179-09 Solaris 2.4 101945-60 Solaris 2.4_x86 101946-53 Solaris 2.3 101318-91 _______________________________________________________________________________ APPENDICES A. Patches listed in this bulletin are available to all Sun customers via World Wide Web at: B. Checksums for the patches listed in this bulletin are available via World Wide Web at: C. Sun security bulletins are available via World Wide Web at: D. Sun Security Coordination Team's PGP key is available via World Wide Web at: E. To report or inquire about a security problem with Sun software, contact one or more of the following: - Your local Sun answer centers - Your representative computer security response team, such as CERT - Sun Security Coordination Team. Send email to: security-alert@sun.com F. 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To subscribe, supply the following in the subject line (not body): subscribe cws your-email-address Note that your-email-address should be substituted by your email address. unsubscribe Sender is removed from the CWS mailing list. ________________________________________________________________________________ Copyright 1998 Sun Microsystems, Inc. All rights reserved. Sun, Sun Microsystems, Solaris and SunOS are trademarks or registered trademarks of Sun Microsystems, Inc. in the United States and other countries. This Security Bulletin may be reproduced and distributed, provided that this Security Bulletin is not modified in any way and is attributed to Sun Microsystems, Inc. and provided that such reproduction and distribution is performed for non-commercial purposes. ============================================================================== CERT-NL thanks SUN Microsystems, Inc for bringing this information to our attention. ============================================================================== 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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Box 19035 NL - 3501 DA UTRECHT The Netherlands NOODGEVALLEN: 06 52 87 92 82 ALTIJD BEREIKBAAR EMERGENCIES : +31 6 52 87 92 82 ATTENDED AT ALL TIMES CERT-NL'S EMERGENCY PHONENUMBER IS ONLY TO BE USED IN CASE OF EMERGENCIES: THE SURFNET HELPDESK OPERATING THE EMERGENCY NUMBER HAS A *FIXED* PROCEDURE FOR DEALING WITH YOUR ALERT AND WILL IN REGULAR CASES RELAY IT TO CERT-NL IN AN APPROPRIATE MANNER. CERT-NL WILL THEN CONTACT YOU. ============================================================================== -----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE----- Version: 2.6.3ia Charset: latin1 iQCVAwUBNnpsnVpSTqmIRWKVAQGCIAP+Oc4TESq1kzNuUu2kBvRKApRHc9M+D2KE XGHlG70bhX58Iln1ES//q+oMoL7iisAGp8dEnzV/q8Gz7PA/K1AuHTM/1P4SxWTq hE65OGbT27XHMvRAvFd/udXAsjmHK7d/Z+HCg8gcGPksf/O9IKY/4PLbi62ZMk7L BDGUkbMFLXA= =HW36 -----END PGP SIGNATURE-----