IRIX pmcd Denial of Service vulnerability

[SGI Security Coordinator <agent99 () sgi com>]

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_____________________________________________________________________________

                          SGI Security Advisory

        Title:      pmcd Denial of Service vulnerability
        Number:     20020407-01-I
        Date:       April 30, 2002
        Reference:  CAN-2000-1193

______________________________________________________________________________

- -----------------------
- --- Issue Specifics ---
- -----------------------

It's been reported that it is possible to feed certain parameters to the
/usr/etc/pmcd daemon that will make it grow in size to the point where a
Denial of Service attack can be created.

SGI 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.

These issues have been corrected in IRIX 6.5.11 and later versions.


- --------------
- --- Impact ---
- --------------

The pmcd daemon is part of SGI's Performance Co-Pilot suite of performance
monitoring tools.  This is an optional product and is not installed by
default, but is supplied with the base OS.

To see if pmcd is installed, execute the following command:

% versions pcp_eoe
I = Installed, R = Removed

   Name                 Date        Description

   I  pcp_eoe              01/22/2002  Performance Co-Pilot Execution Only
                                       Environment, 6.5.15f
   I  pcp_eoe.man          01/22/2002  PCP EOE Documentation, 6.5.15f
   I  pcp_eoe.man.relnotes 01/22/2002  PCP EOE Release Notes, 6.5.15f
   I  pcp_eoe.sw           01/22/2002  PCP EOE Software, 6.5.15f
   I  pcp_eoe.sw.eoe       01/22/2002  PCP EOE, 6.5.15f

If the output looks similar to the above, then Performance Co-Pilot is
installed, and you are vulnerable if the version shown is earlier than
6.5.11.

This vulnerability may be exploited by a remote user, no local account
is required.

This vulnerability has been fixed in IRIX 6.5.11 and later versions.

This vulnerability was assigned the following CVE:
http://cve.mitre.org/cgi-bin/cvename.cgi?name=CAN-2000-1193
http://www.iss.net/security_center/static/4284.php


- ----------------------------
- --- Temporary Workaround ---
- ----------------------------

If you don't use the Performance Co-Pilot software, it can be uninstalled
using the command:

  # versions remove pcp_eoe

If you use the software, then SGI recommends upgrading to IRIX 6.5.11 or a
later version.


- ----------------
- --- Solution ---
- ----------------

SGI has not provided patches for this vulnerability. Our recommendation is
to upgrade to IRIX 6.5.11 or a later version.


   OS Version     Vulnerable?     Patch #      Other Actions
   ----------     -----------     -------      -------------
   IRIX 3.x        unknown                     Note 1
   IRIX 4.x        unknown                     Note 1
   IRIX 5.x        unknown                     Note 1
   IRIX 6.0.x      unknown                     Note 1
   IRIX 6.1        unknown                     Note 1
   IRIX 6.2        unknown                     Note 1
   IRIX 6.3        unknown                     Note 1
   IRIX 6.4        unknown                     Note 1
   IRIX 6.5          yes                       Notes 2 & 3
   IRIX 6.5.1        yes                       Notes 2 & 3
   IRIX 6.5.2        yes                       Notes 2 & 3
   IRIX 6.5.3        yes                       Notes 2 & 3
   IRIX 6.5.4        yes                       Notes 2 & 3
   IRIX 6.5.5        yes                       Notes 2 & 3
   IRIX 6.5.6        yes                       Notes 2 & 3
   IRIX 6.5.7        yes                       Notes 2 & 3
   IRIX 6.5.8        yes                       Notes 2 & 3
   IRIX 6.5.9        yes                       Notes 2 & 3
   IRIX 6.5.10       yes                       Notes 2 & 3
   IRIX 6.5.11       no
   IRIX 6.5.12       no
   IRIX 6.5.13       no
   IRIX 6.5.14       no
   IRIX 6.5.15       no
   IRIX 6.5.16       no


   NOTES

     1) This version of the IRIX operating has been retired. Upgrade to an
        actively supported IRIX operating system.  See
        http://support.sgi.com/irix/news/index.html#policy for more
        information.

     2) If you have not received an IRIX 6.5.X CD for IRIX 6.5, contact your
        SGI Support Provider or URL: http://support.sgi.com/irix/swupdates/

     3) Upgrade to IRIX 6.5.11 or a later version of IRIX.


- ------------------------
- --- Acknowledgments ----
- ------------------------

SGI wishes to thank Marcelo Magnasco, ISS, FIRST and the users of the
Internet Community at large for their assistance in this matter.


- -------------
- --- Links ---
- -------------

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IRIX 5.2-6.4 Recommended/Required Patch Sets can be found at:
http://support.sgi.com/irix/ and ftp://patches.sgi.com/support/patchset/

IRIX 6.5 Maintenance Release Streams can be found at:
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______________________________________________________________________________
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