CERT® Advisory CA-1992-18 Revised VMS Monitor Vulnerability
Original issue date: November 17,1992
Last revised: September 19, 1997
Attached copyright statement
A complete revision history is at the end of this file.
*** 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 hard 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.
This document is available from:
http://www.cert.org/advisories/CA-1992-18.html
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Phone: +1 412-268-7090 (24-hour hotline)
Fax: +1 412-268-6989
Postal address:
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Carnegie Mellon University
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U.S.A.
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Copyright 1992 Carnegie Mellon University.
Revision History
September 19,1997 Attached copyright statement
