Newsgroups: sura.security
Date: Tue, 17 Nov 92 16:02:51 -0500
From: bjp@sura.net
To: security@sura.net
Subject: CERT Dec/VMS Monitor update

 
 CA-92:18		     CERT Advisory
 			   November 17, 1992
 		    Revised VMS Monitor Vulnerability 
 
 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
 				   
 	       *** THIS IS A REVISED CERT ADVISORY ***
 *** IT CONTAINS NEW INFORMATION REGARDING AVAILABILITY OF IMAGE KITS ***
 	      *** SUPERSEDES CERT ADVISORY CA-92:16 ***
 
 
 The CERT Coordination Center received information concerning a
 potential vulnerability with Digital Equipment Corporation's VMS
 Monitor. This vulnerability is present in V5.0 through V5.4-2 but has
 been corrected in V5.4-3 through V5.5-1.  The Software Security 
 Response Team at Digital has provided the following information
 concerning this vulnerability.
 
 The remedial image kit was not available at the time CERT distributed
 the CA-92:16.VMS.monitor.vulnerability advisory (dated September 22,
 1992).  At that time, Digital strongly suggested that customers either
 upgrade to VMS V5.4-3 (preferably to V5.5-1) or implement the provided
 workaround if unable to upgrade.
 
 The following SSRT-200-1 addendum contains information about the
 availability of new images to address the possible vulnerability with
 VMS Monitor.
 
 This last and final addendum includes new information about remedial
 images for VMS V5.0 through V5.4-2.
  
 Digital strongly suggests that those customers who were unable to
 upgrade their systems (i.e., VMS V5.0 through V5.4-2) obtain and
 install the remedial image kit on their system(s).
 
 For additional information, please contact your normal Digital 
 Services Support Organization.
 
 
  	   The information separated by the hash (#) line is
 	 excerpted from the previously published CERT Advisory
 ##############################################################################
 
 SSRT-0200      PROBLEM: Potential Security Vulnerability Identified in Monitor
                 SOURCE: Digital Equipment Corporation
                 AUTHOR: Software Security Response Team - U.S.
                         Colorado Springs USA
 
                PRODUCT:  VMS
 Symptoms Identified On:  VMS, Versions 5.0, 5.0-1, 5.0-2, 5.1, 5.1-B,
                                        5.1-1, 5.1-2, 5.2, 5.2-1, 5.3,
                                        5.3-1, 5.3-2, 5.4, 5.4-1, 5.4-2
 
             *******************************************************
             SOLUTION: This problem is not present in VMS V5.4-3
                       (released in October 1991) through V5.5-1
                       (released in July, 1992.)
             *******************************************************
 Copyright (c) Digital Equipment Corporation, 1992 All Rights Reserved.
 Published Rights Reserved Under The Copyright Laws Of The United States.
 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 PROBLEM/IMPACT:
 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
      Unauthorized privileges may be expanded to authorized users of a system
      under certain conditions, via the Monitor utility.   Should a system be
      compromised through unauthorized access, there is a risk of potential
      damage to a system environment.  This problem will not permit unauthorized
      access entry, as individuals attempting to gain unauthorized access will
      continue to be denied through the standard VMS security mechanisms.
 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 SOLUTION:
 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
      This potential vulnerability does not exist in VMS V5.4-3
      (released in October 1991) and later versions of VMS through V5.5-1.
 
      Digital strongly recommends that you upgrade to a minimum of VMS V5.4-3,
      and further, to the latest release of VMS V5.5-1. (released in July, 1992)
 
 ################################################################################
 	End of material excerpted from previously published CERT Advisory
 
 
           Beginning of Text Provided by Digital Equipment Corporation
 ================================================================================
      21-OCT-1992 SSRT-0200-1 (ADDENDUM)
      21-AUG-1992 SSRT-0200
 	
      SOURCE: 		Digital Equipment Corporation
      AUTHOR: 		Software Security Response Team - U.S.
                         Colorado Springs USA
 
 	     PRODUCT: VMS MONITOR V5.0 through V5.4-2 
 
              PROBLEM: Potential Security Vulnerability in VMS Monitor Utility
             SOLUTION: A VMS V5.0 through V5.4-2 remedial kit is now available 
                       by contacting your normal Digital Services Support 
                       organization.     
 
             NOTE:     This problem has been corrected in VAX VMS V5.4-3
                       (released in October 1991).  
            __________________________________________________________________
            The kit may be identified as MONTOR$S01_05* or CSCPAT_1047 
            via DSIN , and DSNlink.
 	   ------------------------------------------------------------------
 	
      Copyright (c) Digital Equipment Corporation, 1992 All Rights Reserved.
      Published Rights Reserved Under The Copyright Laws Of The United States.
 
      -------------------------------------------------------------------------	
      ADVISORY ADDENDUM INFORMATION:
      -------------------------------------------------------------------------	
 
      In August 1992, an advisory and article was distributed describing a 
      potential security vulnerability discovered in the VMS Monitor utility and
      provided suggested workarounds to remove the vulnerability. The advisory
      was labeled SSRT-200 "Potential Security Vulnerability in VMS Monitor
      Utility".
 
      This advisory follows that advisory with information of the
      availability of a kit containing a new sys$share:spishr.exe for VMS
      V5.0-* through VMS V5.4-2 and may be identified as MONTOR$S01_050
      through MONTOR$S01_054 respectively from your Digital Services
      organization.
      In the U.S.the kit is also identified as CSCPAT_1047 via DSIN and DSNlink.
 
 Note:This potential vulnerability does not exist in VMS V5.4-3 and later
      versions of VMS.  Digital strongly recommends that you upgrade to a
      minimum of VMS V5.4-3, and further, to the latest release of VMS V5.5-1.
      (released in July, 1992)
 
      If you cannot upgrade to a minimum of VMS V5.4-3 at this time,
      Digital strongly recommends that you install the available V5.0-* 
      through V5.4-2 kit on your  system(s), available from your support 
      organization, to avoid any potential vulnerability. 
 
      You may obtain a kit for VMS V5.0 through V5.4-2 by contacting your normal
      Digital Services support organization. (Customer Support Center, using 
      DSNlink or DSIN, or your local support office)   
 
      As always, Digital recommends that you periodically review your system
      management and security procedures.  Digital will continue to review and
      enhance the security features of its products and work with customers to
      maintain and improve the security and integrity of their systems.
 
 ===========================================================================
         End of Text provided by Digital Equipment Corporation
 
 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
 CERT wishes to thank Teun Nijssen of CERT-NL (the SURFnet CERT, in the
 Netherlands) for bringing this security vulnerability to our attention.
 We would also like to thank Digital Equipment Corporation's Software Security
 Response Team for providing information on this vulnerability.
 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
 If you believe that your system has been compromised, contact CERT or
 your representative in FIRST (Forum of Incident Response and Security Teams).
 
 Internet E-mail: cert@cert.org
 Telephone: 412-268-7090 (24-hour hotline)
            CERT personnel answer 7:30 a.m.-6:00 p.m. EST(GMT-5)/EDT(GMT-4),
            on call for emergencies during other hours.
 
 CERT Coordination Center
 Software Engineering Institute
 Carnegie Mellon University
 Pittsburgh, PA 15213-3890