Firebird: Data disclosure

Background

Firebird is a multi-platform, open source relational database.

Description

Viesturs reported that the default configuration for Gentoo’s init script (“/etc/conf.d/firebird”) sets the “ISC_PASSWORD” environment variable when starting Firebird. It will be used when no password is supplied by a client connecting as the “SYSDBA” user.

Impact

A remote attacker can authenticate as the “SYSDBA” user without providing the credentials, resulting in complete disclosure of all databases except for the user and password database (security2.fdb).

Workaround

There is no known workaround at this time.

Resolution

All Firebird users should upgrade to the latest version:

 # emerge --sync
 # emerge --ask --oneshot --verbose ">=dev-db/firebird-2.0.3.12981.0-r6"

Note: /etc/conf.d is protected by Portage as a configuration directory. Do not forget to use "etc-update " or "dispatch-conf " to overwrite the “firebird” configuration file, and then restart Firebird.