From lindsey@MALLORN.COM Sun Sep 3 23:02:14 2000 From: "Christopher P. Lindsey" To: BUGTRAQ@SECURITYFOCUS.COM Date: Thu, 20 Jan 2000 18:21:23 -0600 Subject: AusCERT Advisory AA-2000.01 Majordomo open() call Vulnerability With all of the talk about the majordomo exploit earlier this month... Chris ---------------------------------------------------------------------- From: auscert@auscert.org.au Organization: AUSCERT (Australian Computer Emergency Response Team) Date: Fri, 21 Jan 2000 09:55:57 +1000 AA-2000.01 AUSCERT Advisory Majordomo open() call Vulnerability 20 January 2000 Last Revised: -- - --------------------------------------------------------------------------- AusCERT has received information that a vulnerability exists in the majordomo package versions up to and including 1.94.4. This vulnerability may allow local users to gain the privileges of the user the majordomo process executes as and that of the local mail delivery agent. Exploit information involving this vulnerability has been made publicly available. AusCERT recommends that sites take the steps outlined in section 3 as soon as possible. This advisory will be updated as more information becomes available. - --------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1. Description The majordomo program is a popular application which automates the management of Internet mailing lists. More information on majordomo is available from: http://www.greatcircle.com/majordomo/ A vulnerability exists in majordomo versions up to and including 1.94.4. Exploit information involving this vulnerability has been made publicly available. 2. Impact This vulnerability may allow local users to gain the privileges under which majordomo and the local mail delivery agent executes. Depending on the local majordomo configuration this may be leveraged to gain additional privileges. 3. Solution The vendors of majordomo have produced a minor software release which addresses the vulnerability in versions 1.94.4 and earlier. Sites using affected versions should immediately upgrade to majordomo 1.94.5 which is available from: ftp://ftp.greatcircle.com/pub/majordomo/1.94.5/majordomo-1.94.5.tgz ftp://ftp.sgi.com/other/majordomo/majordomo-1.94.5.tgz 4. Additional measures Sites using majordomo should also take this opportunity to ensure that their majordomo is configured correctly. While correct configuration does not prevent the vulnerability listed in this advisory being exploited it may help limit the privileges a local user may gain. More information on this can be found in the INSTALL file and in the majordomo FAQ available at: http://www.greatcircle.com/majordomo/FAQ.html - --------------------------------------------------------------------------- AusCERT thanks Chan Wilson and Brock Tellier for their assistance in producing this advisory. - --------------------------------------------------------------------------- AusCERT has made every effort to ensure that the information contained in this document is accurate. However, the decision to use the information described is the responsibility of each user or organisation. The appropriateness of this document for an organisation or individual system should be considered before application in conjunction with local policies and procedures. AusCERT takes no responsibility for the consequences of applying the contents of this document. If you believe that your system has been compromised, contact AusCERT or your representative in FIRST (Forum of Incident Response and Security Teams). AusCERT maintains an anonymous FTP service which is found on: ftp://ftp.auscert.org.au/pub/. This archive contains past SERT and AusCERT Advisories, and other computer security information. AusCERT also maintains a World Wide Web service which is found on: http://www.auscert.org.au/. Internet Email: auscert@auscert.org.au Facsimile: (07) 3365 7031 Telephone: (07) 3365 4417 (International: +61 7 3365 4417) AusCERT personnel answer during Queensland business hours which are GMT+10:00 (AEST). On call after hours for emergencies. Postal: Australian Computer Emergency Response Team The University of Queensland Brisbane Qld 4072 AUSTRALIA