October 2005

ID: 00937
Ref: 877/05
Date: 24 October 2005:16:39:38
Version: 1

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Title: IBM - Buffer overflow vulnerability in invscout
Abstract: A buffer overflow vulnerability in the invscout command allows any local user to get root privileges.
Vendors affected: IBM
Applications affected: IBM

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Title
=====
IBM - Buffer overflow vulnerability in invscout


Detail
======


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IBM SECURITY ADVISORY

First Issued: Thu Jun 9 13:31:06 CDT 2005
|Updated: Wed Jul 6 08:38:14 CDT 2005
|Added APAR and interim fix information.
|Updated: Wed Oct 19 11:13:52 CDT 2005
|Updated APAR information.
|Removed interim fix information.

=========================================================================
VULNERABILITY SUMMARY

VULNERABILITY: A buffer overflow vulnerability in the invscout command
allows any local user to get root privileges.

PLATFORMS: AIX 5.1, 5.2 and 5.3.

|Updated: Tue Jul 5 10:41:13 CDT 2005
|Added APAR and interim fix information.
|SOLUTION: Apply the APAR or workaround as described below.

THREAT: A local user may gain root privileges.

CERT VU Number: N/A
CVE Number: N/A
=========================================================================
DETAILED INFORMATION


I. Description
===============

A vulnerability was discovered in the invscout command that allows a local
user to gain root privileges. Exploits for this vulnerability may be
publicly available.

The command affected by this issue ships as part of the invscout.rte
fileset. To determine if this fileset is installed, execute the following
command:

# lslpp -L invscout.rte

If the fileset is installed it will be listed along with its version
information, state, type and a description.


II. Impact
==========
Any local user can exploit this buffer overflow vulnerability to gain root
privileges.


III. Solutions
===============

|Updated: Wed Jul 6 08:38:14 CDT 2005
|Added APAR and interim fix information.
|Updated: Wed Oct 19 11:13:52 CDT 2005
|Updated APAR information.
|
|A. Official Fix
|
|IBM provides the following fixes:
|
|NOTE: The AIX 5.2.0 and AIX 5.3.0 APARs have changed.
|
| APAR number for AIX 5.1.0: IY72752 (available)
| APAR number for AIX 5.2.0: IY75421 (available)
| APAR number for AIX 5.3.0: IY75421 (available)
|
|NOTE: Affected customers are urged to upgrade to 5.1.0, 5.2.0 or 5.3.0 at
|the latest maintenance level.
|
|Updated: Wed Oct 19 11:13:52 CDT 2005
|Removed interim fix information.

C. Workaround

Setting the file mode bits to 500 will allow only the root user to execute
this command. This can be done by executing the following command as root:

# chmod 500 /usr/sbin/invscout

Verify that the file mode bits have been updated:

# ls -la /usr/sbin/invscout
- - -r-x------ 1 root system 465974 Mar 17 11:25 /usr/sbin/invscout



IV. Obtaining Fixes
===================

AIX Version 5 APARs can be downloaded from:

http://www-1.ibm.com/servers/eserver/support/pseries/aixfixes.html

Security related Interim Fixes can be downloaded from:

ftp://aix.software.ibm.com/aix/efixes/security


V. Contact Information
=======================

If you would like to receive AIX Security Advisories via email, please
visit:

https://techsupport.services.ibm.com/server/pseries.subscriptionSvcs

Comments regarding the content of this announcement can be directed to:

security-alert@austin.ibm.com

To request the PGP public key that can be used to communicate securely
with the AIX Security Team send email to security-alert@austin.ibm.com
with a subject of "get key". The key can also be downloaded from a PGP
Public Key Server. The key id is 0x9391C1F2.

Please contact your local IBM AIX support center for any assistance.

eServer is a trademark of International Business Machines Corporation.
IBM, AIX and pSeries are registered trademarks of International Business
Machines Corporation. All other trademarks are property of their respective
holders.
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