HPSBUX9704-057 Security Vulnerability in ppl command

[aleph1 () DFW NET (Aleph One)]

                        HP Support Information Digests

===============================================================================
o  HP Electronic Support Center World Wide Web Service
   ---------------------------------------------------

   If you subscribed through the HP Electronic Support Center and would
   like to be REMOVED from this mailing list, access the
   HP Electronic Support Center on the World Wide Web at:

     http://us-support.external.hp.com

   Login using your HP Electronic Support Center User ID and Password.
   Then select Support Information Digests.  You may then unsubscribe from the
   appropriate digest.
===============================================================================


Digest Name:  Daily Security Bulletins Digest
    Created:  Mon Nov 24  3:00:04 PST 1997

Table of Contents:

Document ID      Title
---------------  -----------
HPSBUX9704-057   Security Vulnerability in ppl command

The documents are listed below.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Document ID:  HPSBUX9704-057
Date Loaded:  971124
      Title:  Security Vulnerability in ppl command

-------------------------------------------------------------------------
**REVISED 01** HEWLETT-PACKARD SECURITY BULLETIN: #00057, 22 April 1997
Last Revised:   24 November 1997
-------------------------------------------------------------------------

The information in the following Security Bulletin should be acted upon
as soon as possible.  Hewlett-Packard will not be liable for any
consequences to any customer resulting from customer's failure to fully
implement instructions in this Security Bulletin as soon as possible.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------
PROBLEM:  Security Vulnerability in [/usr]/bin/ppl

PLATFORM: HP 9000 Series 700/800s running HP-UX releases 9.X & 10.X

DAMAGE:   Vulnerability exists that could allow local users to gain
          root privileges.

SOLUTION: Apply patch:
**REVISED 01**
          PHNE_13179 for all platforms with HP-UX releases 9.X,
          PHNE_13180 for all platforms with HP-UX releases 10.00 & 10.01,
          PHNE_13181 for all platforms with HP-UX release 10.10,
          PHNE_13182 for all platforms with HP-UX release 10.20,
          PHNE_12499 for all platforms with HP-UX release 10.30.

AVAILABILITY: All patches are currently available.

CHANGE SUMMARY: This bulletin revision references new & improved patches.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
I.
   A. Background
      A vulnerability in the ppl executable ([/usr]/bin/ppl) exists.
      (Detailed in AUSCERT Advisory AA-97.07).

   B. Fixing the problem
**REVISED 01**

      The vulnerability can be eliminated from HP-UX releases 9.X and
      up to and including 10.30, by applying the appropriate patch.

   C. Recommended solution
**REVISED 01**

      1. Determine which patch is appropriate for your operating
         system.  HP-UX version 10.00 users are encouraged to upgrade
         to HP-UX version 10.01 or above.
         NOTE: HP-UX release 10.24 (VVOS) is not vulnerable.


         World Wide Web service for downloading of patches is available
         for free by registered users via our URL at the Electronic
         Support Center (ESC).  (See Section E below).

      2. Apply the patch to your HP-UX system.

      3. Examine /tmp/update.log (9.X), or /var/adm/sw/swinstall.log
         (10.X), for any relevant WARNING's or ERROR's.

   D. Impact of the patch
      The patches for HP-UX releases 9.X and 10.X provide enhancements
      to the ppl executable to avoid this vulnerability.


   E. To subscribe to automatically receive future NEW HP Security
      Bulletins from the HP ESC via electronic mail, and to download
      patches for free by registered users.do the following:

   User your browser to get to the HP Electronic Support Center page at:

      http://us-support.external.hp.com
      (for US, Canada, Asia-Pacific, & Latin-America)

      http://europe-support.external.hp.com
      (for Europe)

   Click on the Technical Knowledge Database, register as a user
   (remember to save the User ID assigned to you, and your password),
   and it will connect to a HP Search Technical Knowledge DB page.
   Near the bottom is a hyperlink to our Security Bulletin archive.
   Once in the archive there is another link to our current
   security patch matrix. Updated daily, this matrix is categorized
   by platform/OS release, and by bulletin topic.


   F. To report new security vulnerabilities, send email to

          security-alert () hp com

      Please encrypt any exploit information using the security-alert
      PGP key, available from your local key server, or by sending a
      message with a -subject- (not body) of 'get key' (no quotes) to
      security-alert () hp com.


     Permission is granted for copying and circulating this Bulletin to
     Hewlett-Packard (HP) customers (or the Internet community) for the
     purpose of alerting them to problems, if and only if, the Bulletin
     is not edited or changed in any way, is attributed to HP, and
     provided such reproduction and/or distribution is performed for
     non-commercial purposes.

     Any other use of this information is prohibited. HP is not liable
     for any misuse of this information by any third party.
________________________________________________________________________
-----End of Document ID:  HPSBUX9704-057--------------------------------------