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                                  CERT-Renater

                       Note d'Information No. 2005/VULN288
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DATE                      : 09/05/2005

HARDWARE PLATFORM(S)      : /

OPERATING SYSTEM(S)       : Solaris 7, Solaris 8, Solaris 9.

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Sun(sm) Alert Notification
      * Sun Alert ID: 57780
      * Synopsis: NIS+ Client Users May Be Able to Cause a Denial of NIS+
        Service
      * Category: Security
      * Product: Solaris
      * BugIDs: 5109439
      * Avoidance: Patch, Workaround
      * State: Resolved
      * Date Released: 04-May-2005
      * Date Closed: 04-May-2005
      * Date Modified:

    1. Impact Remote unprivileged users on NIS+ client systems may be able
    to disable the NIS+ service daemon, rpc.nisd(1M) which runs on NIS+
    servers and implements the NIS+ service. By disabling the
    rcp.nisd(1M), the NIS+ service will be unavailable which is a type of
    denial of service. If a NIS+ server is configured as a client as well
    then local unprivileged users on that NIS+ server may be able to
    disable rpc.nisd(1M). It is also possible that a poorly written client
    application could similarly cause the denial of service.

    2. Contributing Factors This issue can occur in the following
    releases:

    SPARC Platform

      * Solaris 7 without patches 106938-09 and 106942-29
      * Solaris 8 without patch 108993-45
      * Solaris 9 without patch 113319-22

    x86 Platform

      * Solaris 7 without patches 106939-09 and 106943-29
      * Solaris 8 without patch 108994-45
      * Solaris 9 without patch 113719-16

    Notes:

     1. This issue only affects systems that are configured as NIS+ Master
        or Replica servers.
     2. Solaris 10 is not affected by this issue.

    To determine if this is a NIS+ Master or Replica server, the following
    command can be run:

     $ pgrep rpc.nisd || echo "This system is not a NIS+ server."

    Also check that the rpc.nisd(1M) process is started on the system
    (otherwise the system does not function as a NIS+ server). The
    following command will show the running NIS+ service daemon
    rpc.nisd(1M):

     # ps -ef |grep rpc.nisd

    3. Symptoms For Solaris 7 and 8 this can effectively disable the NIS+
    service for that server. If the request is repeated, then another
    server will be disabled until all NIS+ services are disabled. For
    Solaris 9 the server will consume excessive CPU time executing a tight
    loop, but the NIS+ service will continue. Should sufficient requests
    be made the server will effectively become disabled.

    This could affect for example, login of a user to a client system, a
    request to the NIS+ naming service with commands like nisls(1) or
    getent(1M) or telnet(1) to another system.

    In addition, NIS+ servers will be showing continuous high CPU usage.
    This means that the output of the "ps -efl" command will show a fast
    increasing number for the used time of the rpc.nisd(1M) process.

    Solution Summary

    4. Relief/Workaround To temporarily work around the described issue:
    restart the NIS+ server daemon, then by using snoop(1M), identify the
    source of the requests and either discontinue or disable it, if
    possible.

    5. Resolution This issue is addressed in the following releases:

    SPARC Platform

      * Solaris 7 with patches 106938-09 or later and 106942-29 or
        later
      * Solaris 8 with patch 108993-45 or later
      * Solaris 9 with patch 113319-22 or later

    x86 Platform

      * Solaris 7 with patches 106939-09 or later and 106943-29 or
        later
      * Solaris 8 with patch 108994-45 or later
      * Solaris 9 with patch 113719-16 or later

    This Sun Alert notification is being provided to you on an "AS IS"
    basis. This Sun Alert notification may contain information provided by
    third parties. The issues described in this Sun Alert notification may
    or may not impact your system(s). Sun makes no representations,
    warranties, or guarantees as to the information contained herein. ANY
    AND ALL WARRANTIES, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING WITHOUT LIMITATION
    WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, OR
    NON-INFRINGEMENT, ARE HEREBY DISCLAIMED. BY ACCESSING THIS DOCUMENT
    YOU ACKNOWLEDGE THAT SUN SHALL IN NO EVENT BE LIABLE FOR ANY DIRECT,
    INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, PUNITIVE, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES THAT ARISE
    OUT OF YOUR USE OR FAILURE TO USE THE INFORMATION CONTAINED HEREIN.
    This Sun Alert notification contains Sun proprietary and confidential
    information. It is being provided to you pursuant to the provisions of
    your agreement to purchase services from Sun, or, if you do not have
    such an agreement, the Sun.com Terms of Use. This Sun Alert
    notification may only be used for the purposes contemplated by these
    agreements.

    Copyright 2000-2005 Sun Microsystems, Inc., 4150 Network Circle, Santa
    Clara, CA 95054 U.S.A. All rights reserved.

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