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Original issue date: March 27, 1991
Last revised: September 18, 1997
Attached copyright statement

A complete revision history is at the end of this file.

*** THIS IS A REVISED CERT ADVISORY ***

*** CONTAINS NEW INFORMATION AND A CORRECTION ***


I. Description

The Computer Emergency Response Team/Coordination Center (CERT/CC) has obtained information from Sun Microsystems, Inc. regarding a vulnerability affecting SunOS 4.1 and 4.1.1 versions of in.telnetd on all Sun 3 and Sun 4 architectures. This vulnerability also affects SunOS 4.0.3 versions of both in.telnetd and in.rlogind on all Sun3 and Sun 4 architectures. To our knowledge, a vulnerability does not exist in the SunOS 4.1 and 4.1.1 versions of in.rlogind. The vulnerability has been fixed by Sun Microsystems, Inc.

This advisory has been revised to include information on the new patches available for SunOS 4.0.3. The CERT would also like to mention that the name of the compressed tarfile included in the previous CERT Advisory, CA-91:02, was incorrect. It was listed as 1001125-02.tar.Z and it should have been 100125-02.tar.Z. We regret any inconvenience this may have caused.

Please be aware that the new compressed tarfile provided by Sun Microsystems, Inc. includes all of the patched files for SunOS 4.0.3, SunOS 4.1, and SunOS 4.1.1. That is, the tarfile contains the new patches for SunOS 4.0.3 as well as those files previously distributed in the 100125-02.tar.Z tarfile. The installation of the patch differs between SunOS 4.0.3 and SunOS 4.1.x.

II. Impact

The vulnerability allows a user on the system to gain unauthorized access to other accounts, including root.

III. Solution for SunOS 4.0.3 and 4.0.3c

Sun Microsystems, Inc. has patched versions of in.telnetd and in.rlogind available for SunOS 4.0.3 on all Sun 3 and Sun 4 architectures. The Sun Patch ID is 100125-03 which is needed when ordering the patch from a Sun Answer Center. In the US, telephone (800) USA-4SUN. The checksum of the compressed tarfile (filename 100125-03.tar.Z) is 17128 102. The compressed tarfile is available by anonymous FTP on uunet.uu.net (192.48.96.2) in sun-dist/100125-03.tar.Z. Please note: This compressed tarfile also includes patched versions of in.telnetd for SunOS 4.1 and 4.1.1. Please disregard these files.

SunOS 4.0.3 patch installation instructions are as follows:

  # mv /usr/etc/in.telnetd /usr/etc/in.telnetd.FCS
  # mv /usr/etc/in.rlogind /usr/etc/in.rlogind.FCS
  # chmod 600 /usr/etc/in.telnetd.FCS 
  # chmod 600 /usr/etc/in.rlogind.FCS 

(These four steps store the old versions as a precaution and change the file modes so that the old versions cannot be executed. After verifying the new versions, the old versions should be removed.)

  # cp sun{3,3x,4,4c}/{4.0.3,4.0.3c}/in.telnetd /usr/etc/in.telnetd
  # cp sun{3,3x,4,4c}/{4.0.3,4.0.3c}/in.rlogind /usr/etc/in.rlogind

(Be sure to copy the appropriate versions for your architecture.)

  # chmod 711 /usr/etc/in.telnetd 
  # chmod 711 /usr/etc/in.rlogind
  # chown root /usr/etc/in.telnetd
  # chown root /usr/etc/in.rlogind
  # chgrp staff /usr/etc/in.telnetd
  # chgrp staff /usr/etc/in.rlogind
  # kill {any executing in.telnetd and in.rlogind process(es) (SEE NOTE)}

NOTE: Be careful in killing existing in.telnetd and in.rlogind processes, as they may be legitimate users attempting to login to the system.

IV. Solution for SunOS 4.1 and 4.1.1

Sun Microsystems, Inc. has patched versions of in.telnetd available for SunOS 4.1 and 4.1.1 on all Sun 3 and Sun 4 architectures. The Sun Patch ID is 100125-03 which is needed when ordering the patch from a Sun Answer Center. In the US, telephone (800) USA-4SUN. The checksum of the compressed tarfile (filename 100125-03.tar.Z) is 17128 102. The compressed tarfile is available by anonymous FTP on uunet.uu.net (192.48.96.2) in sun-dist/100125-03.tar.Z. Please note: This tarfile includes patched versions of in.telnetd and in.rlogind for SunOS 4.0.3. Please disregard these files.

Patch installation instructions are as follows:

  # mv /usr/etc/in.telnetd /usr/etc/in.telnetd.FCS
  # chmod 600 /usr/etc/in.telnetd.FCS

(These two steps store the old version as a precaution and change the file mode to that the old version cannot be executed; after verifying the new version, the old version should be removed.)

# cp sun{3,3x,4,4c}/4.1/in.telnetd /usr/etc/in.telnetd
(Be sure to copy the appropriate version for your architecture.)
  # chmod 711 /usr/etc/in.telnetd
  # chown root /usr/etc/in.telnetd
  # chgrp staff /usr/etc/in.telnetd
  # kill {any executing in.telnetd process(es) (SEE NOTE)}

NOTE: Be careful in killing existing in.telnetd processes, as they may be legitimate users attempting to login to the system.


Copyright 1991 Carnegie Mellon University.


Revision History
September 18,1997  Attached Copyright Statement
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