Re: sperl 5.00503 (and newer ;) exploit

[Paul Rogers <paul.rogers () MIS-CDS COM>]

Hi,

Sorry for the cross-post - I think this is relevant.

I have tested this on several test systems all running Perl 5.00503:

i) Mandrake 6.0 kernel 2.2.16 (P2 350 - 64Mb RAM) & RedHat 6.0 kernel 2.2.16
(P3 450 - 128Mb RAM) : Both return a rootshell almost instantaneously.

ii) RedHat 6.2 kernel 2.2.16 (P2 266 - 64Mb RAM) with OpenWall patches and
many other security modifications - now running for over 2 hours and still
no rootshell - load average of around 10.5 but the system is still usable.

A solution? If you don't use perl, delete the suidperl binary typically
found in /usr/bin. If you do use perl, chmod -s suidperl whereever it is
residing, but only if you don't use any of the functionality provided by
suidperl - don't want to go breaking those scripts on mission critical
servers.

Or - install the OpenWall patches from www.openwall.com if you're running
Linux - however please note that this theory requires further testing before
the i's and t's can be dotted and crossed - no flames please. I shall
continue to play with it and let the lists know the results.

IMHO, a lesson to be learnt regarding these local exploits is to audit local
users on a regular basis to ensure where possible that only trusted users
and/or valid accounts exist on a system.

Cheers,

Paul Rogers,
Network Security Analyst.

MIS Corporate Defence Solutions Limited

Tel:            +44 (0)1622 723422 (Direct Line)
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> -----Original Message-----
> From: Michal Zalewski [mailto:lcamtuf () DIONE IDS PL]
> Sent: 05 August 2000 17:39
> To: BUGTRAQ () SECURITYFOCUS COM
> Subject: sperl 5.00503 (and newer ;) exploit
>
>
>
> Not much to say (except I feel little bit stupid posting it) ... This
> exploit gives instant root, at least on RedHat 6.x/7.0 Linux
> boxes I have
> available for tests... And for sure, all other systems are
> vulnerable as
> well - it's just maybe this code will need some refining / tuning /
> minor changes...
>
> Below you'll find brief description of vulnerability and
> exploit itself,
> written by me. Please note - I didn't developed everything by
> myself, I
> get great support from Sebastian Krahmer - see development history. I
> still pray he won't get angry on me (probably he will) - but
> he should be
> listed at first any time you're talking about this
> vulnerablity (he made
> me think with his findings :P).
>
> I don't know who should be blamed - perl vendors? /bin/mail
> vendors for
> putting undocumented (at least on manpage) features? Hmm... I
> guess it's
> nobody's fault ;)
>
> Requires: +s perl; bash, gcc, make, usleep (yup, usleep; it's not
> available on every system, but I have no time to rewrite
> everything in C;
> you can grab this code from RedHat distro or so) will be good... Don't
> mail me if you can't use it - it works.
>
> And now, some reading.
>
> #
> #    -- PLEASE READ THESE COMMENTS CAREFULLY BEFORE TRYING ANYTHING --
> #
> # Wonderful, lovely, world-smashing, exciting perl exploit.
> It works against
> # +s suidperl, exploiting undocumented /bin/mail feature when
> perl wants to
> # notify root on inode race conditions. Currently, tested
> under RH Linux.
> #
> # What's probably most shocking, buggy code has following
> comment inside:
> # /* heh, heh */. I guess author wasn't laughning last.
> #
> # Development history of this exploit is really funny. I
> found this condition
> # about 4 months ago, but thought it's useless (who wants to
> notify root?).
> # I deleted my test code and didn't left any notes on it.
> Then, month after
> # this discovery, Sebastian contacted me. He was working on
> perl exploit.
> # He told me he don't know how to cause this condition to
> happen, but if only
> # he realise how it can be done, he'll be able to use
> undocumented /bin/mail
> # feature - environmental variable 'interactive', which, if
> set, causes
> # /bin/mail to interpret ~! commands (subshell requests) even
> if stdin is not
> # on terminal. And then I understood what I've done. I spent
> next month
> # (yes! no kidding!) trying to recall WHAT THE FSCK was the
> condition. I
> # remembered it was trivial, even annoying... And finally,
> now I'm able to
> # reconstruct it.
> #
> # This exploit tries to fit in rather short, but reasonable
> time window in
> # order to exploit bug. I tested it on fast, not overloaded
> Linux box, and
> # I guess on slow machines it needs tunning. It needs anything setuid
> # (/usr/bin/passwd is just fine), writable working directory
> and something
> # around 4 minutes. Working directory should be mounted
> without noexec or
> # nosuid options (if so, find something like /var/lib/svgalib etc).
> #
> # WARNING: On slow machines, it's quite possible this exploit
> will cause
> # heavy load. Please test it when system is not overloaded
> and not used
> # (eg. at night).
> #
> # I'd like to thank Sebastian Krahmer for his help (in fact,
> HE discovered it
> # - I think I can say it without shame), and especially thank
> to several of
> # my braincells that survived monitor radiation and made me
> recall this
> # race condition.
> #
> # Send comments, ideas and flames to <lcamtuf () ids pl>
> # Tested with sperl 5.00503, but should work with any other as well.
> #
> # Good luck and don't abuse it.
> #
>
> _______________________________________________________
> Michal Zalewski [lcamtuf () tpi pl] [tp.internet/security]
> [http://lcamtuf.na.export.pl] <=--=> bash$ :(){ :|:&};:
> =-----=> God is real, unless declared integer. <=-----=


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