Bugtraq mailing list archives
IRIX talkd vulnerability
From: SGI Security Coordinator <agent99 () sgi com>
Date: Mon, 10 Jun 2002 10:43:10 -0700 (PDT)
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_____________________________________________________________________________
SGI Security Advisory
Title: talkd vulnerability
Number: 20020603-01-I
Date: June 10, 2002
Reference: CVE-2000-1010
_____________________________________________________________________________
- -----------------------
- --- Issue Specifics ---
- -----------------------
It's been reported that the /usr/etc/talkd daemon contains a format string
vulnerability. By carefully constructing arguments to talkd, it is possible
to exploit the system, either through DNS or a remote client.
More details are available at the following URL:
http://packetstorm.freezer-burn.org/advisories/misc/talkd.format.txt
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 the 6.5.10 and later releases of IRIX.
- --------------
- --- Impact ---
- --------------
The /usr/etc/talkd daemon is installed by default on IRIX 6.5 systems as
part of eoe.sw.base.
To determine the version of IRIX you are running, execute the following
command:
# uname -R
That will return a result similar to the following:
# 6.5 6.5.15f
The first number ("6.5") is the release name, the second ("6.5.15f" in this
case) is the extended release name. The extended release name is the
"version" we refer to throughout this document.
To see if talkd is installed, execute the following command:
# versions long | grep talkd
f 48692 37 eoe.sw.base usr/etc/talkd
If the command returns a line similar to the above, then talkd is installed,
and depending on the level of IRIX you are running (see below), the system
may be vulnerable to this exploit.
No local account is required, this vulnerability may be exploited by a
remote user.
This vulnerability was assigned the following CVE:
http://cve.mitre.org/cgi-bin/cvename.cgi?name=CVE-2000-1010
- ----------------------------
- --- Temporary Workaround ---
- ----------------------------
SGI understands that there are times when upgrading the operating system or
installing patches are inconvenient or not possible. In those instances, we
recommend the following workaround. Please note that while this workaround
is in place, the services of talkd will no longer be available.
Disable talkd by editing the /etc/inetd.conf file and commenting out the
entry for talkd. When talkd is enabled, the line looks like this:
$ grep talkd /etc/inetd.conf
ntalk dgram udp wait root /usr/etc/talkd talkd
Kill any existing talkd processes, then edit /etc/inetd.conf with your
preferred text editor and put a "#" as the first character of that line,
save the file, and issue a hangup signal to inetd to cause it to reread
/etc/inetd.conf:
# killall talkd
# vi /etc/inetd.conf
Change this:
ntalk dgram udp wait root /usr/etc/talkd talkd
To this:
#ntalk dgram udp wait root /usr/etc/talkd talkd
# killall -HUP inetd
It is not necessary to reboot the system after making this change.
- ----------------
- --- Solution ---
- ----------------
SGI has not provided patches for this vulnerability. Our recommendation is
to upgrade to IRIX 6.5.10 or a later version of IRIX (later versions are
preferred).
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 no
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 6.5.10 or later.
- ------------------------
- --- Acknowledgments ----
- ------------------------
SGI wishes to thank GOBBLES and the users of the Internet Community at large
for their assistance in this matter.
- -------------
- --- Links ---
- -------------
SGI Security Advisories can be found at:
http://www.sgi.com/support/security/ and
ftp://patches.sgi.com/support/free/security/advisories/
SGI Security Patches can be found at:
http://www.sgi.com/support/security/ and
ftp://patches.sgi.com/support/free/security/patches/
SGI patches for IRIX can be found at the following patch servers:
http://support.sgi.com/irix/ and ftp://patches.sgi.com/
SGI freeware updates for IRIX can be found at:
http://freeware.sgi.com/
SGI fixes for SGI open sourced code can be found on:
http://oss.sgi.com/projects/
SGI patches and RPMs for Linux can be found at:
http://support.sgi.com/linux/ or
http://oss.sgi.com/projects/sgilinux-combined/download/security-fixes/
SGI patches for Windows NT or 2000 can be found at:
http://support.sgi.com/nt/
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:
http://support.sgi.com/colls/patches/tools/relstream/index.html
IRIX 6.5 Software Update CDs can be obtained from:
http://support.sgi.com/irix/swupdates/
The primary SGI anonymous FTP site for security advisories and patches is
patches.sgi.com (216.32.174.211). Security advisories and patches are
located under the URL ftp://patches.sgi.com/support/free/security/
For security and patch management reasons, ftp.sgi.com (mirrors
patches.sgi.com security FTP repository) lags behind and does not do a
real-time update.
- -----------------------------------------
- --- SGI Security Information/Contacts ---
- -----------------------------------------
If there are questions about this document, email can be sent to
security-info () sgi com.
------oOo------
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information and is available via anonymous FTP and the Web.
The primary SGI anonymous FTP site for security advisories and patches is
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The SGI Security Headquarters Web page is accessible at the URL:
http://www.sgi.com/support/security/
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For assistance obtaining or working with security patches, please
contact your SGI support provider.
------oOo------
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------oOo------
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------oOo------
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______________________________________________________________________________
This information is provided freely to all interested parties
and may be redistributed provided that it is not altered in any
way, SGI is appropriately credited and the document retains and
includes its valid PGP signature.
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Current thread:
- IRIX talkd vulnerability SGI Security Coordinator (Jun 10)