hp.vvos.tgad.dos.txt

`TGAD DoS  
  
VirtualVault Overview  
  
The VirtualVault operating system is HP's solution to secure  
electronic commerce. It is a B1 and B2 DoD compliant system  
that is becoming increasingly popular with big business, banks, etc.,   
The main security mechanism in which VVOS is based upon is data partitioning.   
Data on the system is classified into one of four security classes, or 'vaults' --   
INSIDE, OUTSIDE, SYSTEM and SYSTEM HIGH. The INSIDE vault houses the server's   
backend applications and databases. The OUTSIDE vault generally  
contains the internet front end and any necessary CGI binaries, etc.  
SYSTEM and SYSTEM HIGH are responsible for maintaining the external  
webpages and audit logs respectively. These vaults are totally segregated  
from each other and work essentially as separate machines. If a  
program requires access to either of the vaults it must be authenticated  
by HP's Trusted Gateway Proxy daemon. The TGP daemon filters all requests  
from the internet and forwards them to middleware server packages that  
safely reside behind the INSIDE vault.   
  
TGA Bug  
  
While the TGP daemon does a good job of ensuring the integrity of the  
request prior to forwarding data to its destination, the trusted  
gateway agent that is responsible for wrapping CGI requests does not  
check the length of the request prior to sending it to TGP. This poses  
a problem since TGA does not correctly handle request messages that   
are more than 512 bytes in length. The result is a trivial DoS attack on  
TGA and all services being wrapped by TGA. The bug was discovered during a  
penetration test on a client system running VVOS 3.01. A post was made to  
a CGI application residing on the system with a large string of characters.  
This was then sent to the trusted gateway agent, causing the daemon   
to crash, leaving the Netscape Enterprise Server unable to service further  
HTTP/SSL requests. The NES logs show the following:  
  
[07/May/1999:16:16:22] security: for host xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx trying to   
GET /cgi-bin/somecgi.cgi?AAAAAAAAAAAAAAA..., vvtga_log reports: ERROR: setup_connection():  
Failed to transfer execution message to TGA daemon  
  
And when NES is started back up:  
  
[07/May/1999:16:28:18] info: successful server startup  
[07/May/1999:16:28:18] info: Netscape-Enterprise/3.5.1G B98.169.2301  
[07/May/1999:16:33:18] failure: Error accepting connection -5993 (Resource temporarily unavailable)  
  
FIX  
  
Chris Hudel of HP was notified of this bug on Wednesday May 12, 1999. He stated  
that HP was aware of the problem and addressed it in patch PHSS 10747. However, I am not  
aware of HP releasing an official 'bug report' on this issue.  
Since I have encountered several VVOS systems this past week that have not  
been patched, and sysadmins unaware of this bug and patch, I decided to post the   
details publicly. NOTE: I have not tested this bug against PHSS 10747 and would  
appreciate input from those who have at [email protected].  
  
- John Daniele  
[email protected]  
  
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------  
  
Date: Thu, 10 Jun 1999 09:19:46 -0700  
From: [email protected]  
Reply-To: [email protected]  
To: [email protected]  
Subject: Security Bulletins Digest  
  
HP Support Information Digests  
  
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Digest Name: Daily Security Bulletins Digest  
Created: Thu Jun 10 3:00:03 PDT 1999  
  
Table of Contents:  
  
Document ID Title  
--------------- -----------  
HPSBUX9906-098 Security Vulnerability in VVOS NES  
  
The documents are listed below.  
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------  
  
?  
Document ID: HPSBUX9906-098  
Date Loaded: 19990609  
Title: Security Vulnerability in VVOS NES  
  
-------------------------------------------------------------------------  
HEWLETT-PACKARD COMPANY SECURITY BULLETIN: #00098, 10 June 1999  
-------------------------------------------------------------------------  
  
The information in the following Security Bulletin should be acted upon  
as soon as possible. Hewlett-Packard Company will not be liable for any  
consequences to any customer resulting from customer's failure to fully  
implement instructions in this Security Bulletin as soon as possible.  
  
-------------------------------------------------------------------------  
PROBLEM: Netscape Enterprise Server cannot correctly process some URL's.  
  
PLATFORM: HP9000 Series 700/800 running:  
HP-UX 10.24 (VVOS) with VirtualVault A.02.00  
HP-UX 10.24 (VVOS) with VirtualVault A.03.00  
HP-UX 10.24 (VVOS) with VirtualVault A.03.01  
HP-UX 10.24 (VVOS) with VirtualVault A.03.50  
  
DAMAGE: Web Server cannot correctly process some URLs.  
  
SOLUTION: Apply the appropriate patches to correct the problem:  
HP-UX 10.24 with VirtualVault A.02.00 US/Canada  
HP-UX 10.24 with VirtualVault A.02.00 International:  
PHCO_18615  
PHSS_18620  
  
HP-UX 10.24 with VirtualVault A.03.00 US/Canada  
HP-UX 10.24 with VirtualVault A.03.00 International:  
PHCO_18615  
PHSS_18616  
  
HP-UX 10.24 with VirtualVault A.03.01 US/Canada  
HP-UX 10.24 with VirtualVault A.03.01 International:  
PHCO_18615  
PHSS_18612  
  
HP-UX 10.24 with VirtualVault A.03.50 US/Canada  
HP-UX 10.24 with VirtualVault A.03.50 International  
PHCO_18615  
PHSS_18621  
  
AVAILABILITY: All patches are available now.  
-----------------------------------------------------------------------  
I.  
A. Background  
A recent bugtraq posting contained some inaccurate information  
regarding Hewlett-Packard Company's VirtualVault Operating System.  
This problem is not TGA nor TGP related; further, VVOS does not  
have a B1 or B2 level of certification.  
  
Under certain conditions, Netscape Enterprise Server (NES)  
fails to properly process web requests. This activity has  
been observed in the NES bundled with Praesidium VirtualVault  
releases A.02.00, A.03.00, A.03.01 and A.03.50.  
  
B. Fixing the problem  
This problem can be completely eliminated by applying the  
recommended patches mentioned above. It can be resolved  
temporarily by commenting out or removing the "vault-auth-log"  
AddLog line from the Netscape Enterprise Server's obj.conf file.  
  
Upon patching the system, automatic reboot is performed. The  
affected filesets are: VaultNES.NES-VAULT VaultTS.INES-COMMON.  
  
C. To subscribe to automatically receive future NEW HP Security  
Bulletins or access the HP Electronic Support Center, use your  
browser to get to our ESC web page at:  
  
http://us-support.external.hp.com (for non-European locations),  
or http://europe-support.external.hp.com (for Europe)  
  
Login with your user ID and password (or register for one).  
Remember to save the User ID/password assigned to you.  
  
Once you are in the Main Menu:  
To -subscribe- to future HP Security Bulletins,  
click on "Support Information Digests".  
To -review Security bulletins already released-,  
click on the "Search Technical Knowledge Database."  
To -retrieve patches-, click on "Individual Patches" and select  
appropriate release and locate with the patch identifier (ID).  
To -browse the HP Security Bulletin Archive-, select the link at  
the bottom of the page once in the "Support Information Digests".  
To -view the Security Patch Matrix-, (updated daily) which  
categorizes security patches by platform/OS release, and by  
bulletin topic, go to the archive (above) and follow the links.  
  
The security patch matrix is also available via anonymous ftp:  
us-ffs.external.hp.com or ~ftp/export/patches/hp-ux_patch_matrix  
  
D. To report new security vulnerabilities, send email to  
  
[email protected]  
  
Please encrypt any exploit information using the security-alert  
PGP key, available from your local key server, or by sending a  
message with a -subject- (not body) of 'get key' (no quotes) to  
[email protected].  
  
Permission is granted for copying and circulating this Bulletin to  
Hewlett-Packard (HP) customers (or the Internet community) for the  
purpose of alerting them to problems, if and only if, the Bulletin  
is not edited or changed in any way, is attributed to HP, and  
provided such reproduction and/or distribution is performed for  
non-commercial purposes.  
  
Any other use of this information is prohibited. HP is not liable  
for any misuse of this information by any third party.  
________________________________________________________________________  
-----End of Document ID: HPSBUX9906-098--------------------------------------  
  
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------  
  
Date: Thu, 10 Jun 1999 19:58:32 -0400  
From: John Daniele <[email protected]>  
To: [email protected]  
Subject: Re: VVOS/Netscape Bug  
  
Since I discovered this vulnerability during a penetration test on a client system I did not have  
adequate time to fully investigate the problem. I apologize for the 'misinformation', which I had  
cross-checked with HP prior to posting. However, of the three such systems I attempted to  
exploit, it did not only affect NES but other applications they had bound as well. It may warrant  
another look.  
  
Secondly, the Virtual Vault's product brief it states that it 'utilizes tough B1 and B2 standards'  
therefore I felt it was safe to use the word 'utilize' and 'comply' interchangeably. I never mentioned  
that the virtual vault operating system was reviewed and/or certified at the B2 level.  
  
John Daniele  
[email protected]  
VOX: (416) 777-3759  
  
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------  
  
Date: Fri, 11 Jun 1999 14:40:18 -0700 (PDT)  
From: CIAC Mail User <[email protected]>  
To: [email protected]  
Subject: CIAC Bulletin J-046: HP-UX VVOS NES Vulnerability  
  
[ For Public Release ]  
-----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE-----  
  
__________________________________________________________  
  
The U.S. Department of Energy  
Computer Incident Advisory Capability  
___ __ __ _ ___  
/ | /_\ /  
\___ __|__ / \ \___  
__________________________________________________________  
  
INFORMATION BULLETIN  
  
HP-UX VVOS NES Vulnerability  
  
June 10, 1999 21:00 GMT Number J-046  
______________________________________________________________________________  
  
PROBLEM: Netscape Enterprise Server cannot correctly process some URL's.  
PLATFORM: HP9000 Series 700/800 running:  
HP-UX 10.24 (VVOS) with VirtualVault A.02.00  
HP-UX 10.24 (VVOS) with VirtualVault A.03.00  
HP-UX 10.24 (VVOS) with VirtualVault A.03.01  
HP-UX 10.24 (VVOS) with VirtualVault A.03.50  
DAMAGE: Web Server cannot correctly process some URLs.  
SOLUTION: Apply available patches.  
______________________________________________________________________________  
VULNERABILITY Risk is medium. Hewlett-Packard recommends that the information  
ASSESSMENT: in this advisory be acted upon as soon as possible.   
______________________________________________________________________________  
  
[ Start Hewlett-Packard Advisory ]  
  
Document ID: HPSBUX9906-098  
Date Loaded: 19990609  
Title: Security Vulnerability in VVOS NES  
  
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------  
HEWLETT-PACKARD COMPANY SECURITY BULLETIN: #00098, 10 June 1999  
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------  
  
The information in the following Security Bulletin should be acted upon  
as soon as possible. Hewlett-Packard Company will not be liable for any  
consequences to any customer resulting from customer's failure to fully  
implement instructions in this Security Bulletin as soon as possible.  
  
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------  
PROBLEM: Netscape Enterprise Server cannot correctly process some URL's.  
  
PLATFORM: HP9000 Series 700/800 running:  
HP-UX 10.24 (VVOS) with VirtualVault A.02.00  
HP-UX 10.24 (VVOS) with VirtualVault A.03.00  
HP-UX 10.24 (VVOS) with VirtualVault A.03.01  
HP-UX 10.24 (VVOS) with VirtualVault A.03.50  
  
DAMAGE: Web Server cannot correctly process some URLs.  
  
SOLUTION: Apply the appropriate patches to correct the problem:  
HP-UX 10.24 with VirtualVault A.02.00 US/Canada  
HP-UX 10.24 with VirtualVault A.02.00 International:  
PHCO_18615  
PHSS_18620  
  
HP-UX 10.24 with VirtualVault A.03.00 US/Canada  
HP-UX 10.24 with VirtualVault A.03.00 International:  
PHCO_18615  
PHSS_18616  
  
HP-UX 10.24 with VirtualVault A.03.01 US/Canada  
HP-UX 10.24 with VirtualVault A.03.01 International:  
PHCO_18615  
PHSS_18612  
  
HP-UX 10.24 with VirtualVault A.03.50 US/Canada  
HP-UX 10.24 with VirtualVault A.03.50 International  
PHCO_18615  
PHSS_18621  
  
AVAILABILITY: All patches are available now.  
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------  
I.  
A. Background  
A recent bugtraq posting contained some inaccurate information  
regarding Hewlett-Packard Company's VirtualVault Operating System.  
This problem is not TGA nor TGP related; further, VVOS does not  
have a B1 or B2 level of certification.  
  
Under certain conditions, Netscape Enterprise Server (NES)  
fails to properly process web requests. This activity has  
been observed in the NES bundled with Praesidium VirtualVault  
releases A.02.00, A.03.00, A.03.01 and A.03.50.  
  
B. Fixing the problem  
This problem can be completely eliminated by applying the  
recommended patches mentioned above. It can be resolved  
temporarily by commenting out or removing the "vault-auth-log"  
AddLog line from the Netscape Enterprise Server's obj.conf file.  
  
Upon patching the system, automatic reboot is performed. The  
affected filesets are: VaultNES.NES-VAULT VaultTS.INES-COMMON.  
  
C. To subscribe to automatically receive future NEW HP Security  
Bulletins or access the HP Electronic Support Center, use your  
browser to get to our ESC web page at:  
  
http://us-support.external.hp.com (for non-European locations),  
or http://europe-support.external.hp.com (for Europe)  
  
Login with your user ID and password (or register for one).  
Remember to save the User ID/password assigned to you.  
  
Once you are in the Main Menu:  
To -subscribe- to future HP Security Bulletins,  
click on "Support Information Digests".  
To -review Security bulletins already released-,  
click on the "Search Technical Knowledge Database."  
To -retrieve patches-, click on "Individual Patches" and select  
appropriate release and locate with the patch identifier (ID).  
To -browse the HP Security Bulletin Archive-, select the link at  
the bottom of the page once in the "Support Information Digests".  
To -view the Security Patch Matrix-, (updated daily) which  
categorizes security patches by platform/OS release, and by  
bulletin topic, go to the archive (above) and follow the links.  
  
The security patch matrix is also available via anonymous ftp:  
us-ffs.external.hp.com or ~ftp/export/patches/hp-ux_patch_matrix  
  
D. To report new security vulnerabilities, send email to  
  
[email protected]  
  
Please encrypt any exploit information using the security-alert  
PGP key, available from your local key server, or by sending a  
message with a -subject- (not body) of 'get key' (no quotes) to  
[email protected].  
  
Permission is granted for copying and circulating this Bulletin to  
Hewlett-Packard (HP) customers (or the Internet community) for the  
purpose of alerting them to problems, if and only if, the Bulletin  
is not edited or changed in any way, is attributed to HP, and  
provided such reproduction and/or distribution is performed for  
non-commercial purposes.  
  
Any other use of this information is prohibited. HP is not liable  
for any misuse of this information by any third party.  
________________________________________________________________________  
- -----End of Document ID: HPSBUX9906-098--------------------------------------  
  
  
[ End Hewlett-Packard Advisory ]  
  
______________________________________________________________________________  
  
CIAC wishes to acknowledge Hewlett-Packard for the information contained in this  
bulletin.  
______________________________________________________________________________  
  
  
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