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North American Network Operators Group Date Prev | Date Next | Date Index | Thread Index | Author Index | Historical CERT Advisory CA-94:10.IBM.AIX.bsh.vulnerability
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CA-94:10 CERT Advisory
June 3, 1994
IBM AIX bsh Vulnerability
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The CERT Coordination Center has learned of a vulnerability in the
batch queue (bsh) of IBM AIX systems running versions prior to and
including AIX 3.2.
CERT recommends disabling the batch queue by following the workaround
instructions in Section III below. Section III also includes
information on how to obtain fixes from IBM if the bsh queue
functionality is required by remote systems.
As we receive additional information relating to this advisory, we
will place it, along with any clarifications, in a CA-94:10.README
file. CERT advisories and their associated README files are available
by anonymous FTP from info.cert.org. We encourage you to check the
README files regularly for updates on advisories that relate to your
site.
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I. Description
The queueing system on IBM AIX includes a batch queue, "bsh",
which is turned on by default in /etc/qconfig on all versions of
AIX 3 and earlier.
II. Impact
If network printing is enabled, remote and local users can gain
access to a privileged account.
III. Solution
In the next release of AIX, the bsh queue will be turned off by
default. CERT recommends that the bsh queue be turned off using
the workaround described in Section A below unless there is an
explicit need to support this functionality for remote hosts. If
this functionality must be supported, IBM provides fixes as
outlined in Sections B and C below. For questions concerning
these workarounds or fixes, please contact IBM at the number
provided below.
A. Workaround
Disable the bsh queue by following one of the two procedures
outlined below:
1. As root, from the command line, enter:
# chque -qbsh -a"up = FALSE"
2. From SMIT, enter:
- Spooler
- Manage Local Printer Subsystem
- Change/Show Characteristics of a Queue
select bsh
- Activate the Queue
select no
B. Emergency fix
Obtain and install the emergency fix for the version(s) of AIX
used at your site. Fixes for the various levels of AIX are
available by anonymous FTP from software.watson.ibm.com. The
files are located in /pub/aix/bshfix.tar.Z in compressed tar
format. Installation instructions are included in the README
file included as part of the tar file.
The directory /pub/aix contains the latest available emergency
fix for APAR IX44381. As updates become available, any new
versions will be placed in this directory with the name
bshfix<#>.tar.Z with <#> being incremented for each update.
See the README.FIRST file in that directory for details.
IBM may remove this emergency fix file without prior notice if
flaws are reported. Due to the changing nature of these
files, no checksum information is available.
C. Official fix
The official fix for this problem can be ordered as APAR
IX44381.
To order APARs from IBM in the U.S., call 1-800-237-5511 and
ask that it be shipped to you as soon as it is available. To
obtain APARs outside of the U.S., contact your local IBM
representative.
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The CERT Coordination Center wishes to thank Gordon C. Galligher of
Information Resources, Inc. for reporting this problem and IBM
Corporation for their support in responding to this problem.
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If you believe that your system has been compromised, contact the CERT
Coordination Center or your representative in Forum of Incident
Response and Security Teams (FIRST).
If you wish to send sensitive incident or vulnerability information to
CERT via electronic mail, CERT strongly advises that the e-mail be
encrypted. CERT can support a shared DES key, PGP (public key
available via anonymous FTP on info.cert.org), or PEM (contact CERT
for details).
Internet E-mail: [email protected]
Telephone: 412-268-7090 (24-hour hotline)
CERT personnel answer 8:30 a.m.-5:00 p.m. EST(GMT-5)/EDT(GMT-4),
and are on call for emergencies during other hours.
CERT Coordination Center
Software Engineering Institute
Carnegie Mellon University
Pittsburgh, PA 15213-3890
USA
Past advisories and their associated README files, information about FIRST
representatives, and other information related to computer security are
available for anonymous FTP from info.cert.org.
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