SSRT5954 rev.4 - HP-UX TCP/IP Remote Denial of Service (DoS)

From: Security Alert (secure_at_hpchs.cup.hp.com)
Date: 07/12/05

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    Date: Tue, 12 Jul 2005 11:27:49 GMT
    
    

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    HP SECURITY BULLETIN

    HPSBUX01137 REVISION: 4

    SSRT5954 rev.4 - HP-UX TCP/IP Remote Denial of Service (DoS)

    NOTICE:
    There are no restrictions for distribution of this Security
    Bulletin provided that it remains complete and intact.

    The information in this Security Bulletin should be acted upon
    as soon as possible.

    INITIAL RELEASE:
    10 July 2005

    POTENTIAL SECURITY IMPACT:
    Remote Denial of Service (DoS)

    SOURCE:
    Hewlett-Packard Company
    HP Software Security Response Team

    VULNERABILITY SUMMARY:
    A potential security vulnerability has been identified with HP-UX
    running TCP/IP (IPv4). This vulnerability could be remotely
    exploited by an unauthorized user to cause a Denial of Service
    (DoS).

    REFERENCES:
    CAN-2005-1192

    SUPPORTED SOFTWARE VERSIONS*: ONLY impacted versions are listed.
    HP-UX B.11.11, B.11.22, B.11.23.

    BACKGROUND:

         AFFECTED VERSIONS

         Note: To determine if a system has an affected version,
               search the output of "swlist -a revision -l fileset"
               for an affected fileset. Then determine if the
               recommended patch or update is installed.

         HP-UX B.11.22
         =============
         Networking.NET2-KRN
         action: install preliminary binary files per HPSBUX01164 OR
                 set ip_pmtu_strategy=0 or 3

         HP-UX B.11.11
         =============
         Networking.NET2-KRN
         action: install PHNE_33159 OR set ip_pmtu_strategy=0 or 3

         HP-UX B.11.23
         =============
         Networking.NET2-KRN
        ->action: install PHNE_32606 OR set ip_pmtu_strategy=0 or 3

         HP-UX B.11.23
         HP-UX B.11.11
         =============
         IPSec.IPSEC2-KRN
         action: set ip_pmtu_strategy=0 or 3

         END AFFECTED VERSIONS

     ->Note: Setting ip_pmtu_strategy=0 is preferred. Please refer to
             HPSBUX01164 for more information.

    Certain network traffic can result in a Denial of Service (DoS)
    for HP-UX systems running TCP/IP (IPv4). Receiving a certain
    packet on any open TCP/IP connection can result in a Denial of
    Service (DoS) condition which can only be corrected by a reboot of
    the affected system.
     ->The Denial of Service (DoS) is characterized by high cpu
    utilization and a lack of response on any I/O port including the
    system console.

    Until patches are available to resolve the issue the Denial of
    Service (DoS) can be avoided by setting the ip_pmtu_strategy
    parameter to either 0 or 3.

     Discussion of ip_pmtu_strategy
     ----------------------------------

    The default value for ip_pmtu_strategy is 1. This allows for PMTU
    discovery. Once the issue of this Security Bulletin has been
    resolved via patches the ip_pmtu_strategy value of 1 will again be
    the preferred setting for most situations.

    The ip_pmtu_strategy values of 0 and 3 set the PMTU to a fixed
    size for destinations which are not on the local network.

    The ip_pmtu_strategy value of 0 sets the PMTU to 576 bytes.
    Routers are required to handle packets of at least this size.

    The ip_pmtu_strategy value of 3 sets the PMTU to 1500 bytes. This
    will generally result in more efficient transmission than the 576
    byte PMTU. If it is known that the routers involved can handle a
    1500 byte MTU the ip_pmtu_strategy value of 3 is preferred.

     Patch requirements for setting ip_pmtu_strategy to 3
     ----------------------------------------------------------

    All affected HP-UX versions allow setting ip_pmtu_strategy to 0.

    B.11.22 and B.11.23 have no patch requirements for
    setting ip_pmtu_strategy to 3.

     ->B.11.11 requires PHNE_25642 or subsequent in order to set
    ip_pmtu_strategy to 3.

     Reboot requirement for setting ip_pmtu_strategy
     ------------------------------------------------------

     ->Any existing connection presents the potential for a Denial of
    Service (DoS). Because of this it is recommended that the
    /etc/rc.config.d/nddconf be modified as discussed below and the
    system be rebooted.

    Note:
    It has been recommended in several places including HP-UX
    Bastille, System Health Check, and the Security Bulletin
    HPSBUX0001-110 that ip_pmtu_strategy be set to 1. This
    recommendation was made to avoid issues with which
    occurred when ip_pmtu_strategy was set to 2. The value 1
    was recommended because it is the system default and
    for most situations results in the best performance. However,
    the values 0 and 3 also avoid the issues which occurred when
    ip_pmtu_strategy was set to 2. As mentioned above once the
    issue of this Security Bulletin has been resolved via patches the
    ip_pmtu_strategy setting of 1 will again be the preferred setting
    for most situations.

    Note:
    There is a defect that will cause "ndd -c" to fail if there are
    more than 10 directives in /etc/rc.config.d/nddconf. That defect
    is fixed in the following patch:

       B.11.11 - PHNE_25644 or subsequent

    RESOLUTION:
    Until patches are available the Denial of Service (DoS) can be
    avoided by setting the ip_pmtu_strategy parameter to 0 or 3.

     ->Note: The preliminary binary files cited in HPSBUX01164 will
    resolve the issue of this Security Bulletin as well for the core
    TCP/IP product. If the IPSec product is installed in B11.11 or
    B.11.23 it will still be necessary to work around the issue of
    this Security Bulletin by setting ip_pmtu_strategy=0 or 3.

    If the ip_pmtu_strategy value of 3 is desired for B.11.11 apply
    the patch listed in the Background section.

    Edit /etc/rc.config.d/nddconf to add the following:

    TRANSPORT_NAME[n]=ip
    NDD_NAME[n]=ip_pmtu_strategy
    NDD_VALUE[n]=0

    or

    TRANSPORT_NAME[n]=ip
    NDD_NAME[n]=ip_pmtu_strategy
    NDD_VALUE[n]=3

    where 'n' is the next available index value as described in the
    nddconf comments.

    This value will take effect when the system is rebooted.
    Until the system can be rebooted use the following command
    to read the /etc/rc.config.d/nddconf file and set the tunable
    parameters:

      /usr/bin/ndd -c

    The ip_pmtu_strategy parameter can be displayed by the following
    command:

      /usr/bin/ndd -get /dev/ip ip_pmtu_strategy

     ->Note: Since open connections will remain potentially vulnerable
    until they are closed and certain internal data structures are
    released it is recommended that the system be rebooted.

    MANUAL ACTIONS: Yes - NonUpdate
    B.11.11, B.11.22, B.11.23
    set ip_pmtu_strategy = 0 or 3

     ->The binary files and patches cited in the HPSBUX01164 Security
    Bulletin will resolve the issue of this Security Bulletin as well
    for the core TCP/IP product.

     ->B11.11, B.11.23 running IPSec
     ->set ip_pmtu_strategy = 0 or 3

     ->The binary files and patches cited in the HPSBUX01164 Security
    Bulletin will NOT resolve the issue of this Security Bulletin in
    the case of the IPSec product.

    BULLETIN REVISION HISTORY:
    Revision 0: 24 April 2005
      Initial release

    Revision 1: 25 May 2005
      The binary files of HPSBUX01164 will resolve the issue for
      B.11.11 and B.11.23.

    Revision 2: 1 June 2005
       The binary files of HPSBUX01164 will resolve the issue for the
       core TCP/IP in B.11.11, B.11.22, and B.11.23.
       The binary files of HPSBUX01164 will resolve NOT resolve the
       issue for IPSec.
       B.11.00 and B.11.04 are NOT vulnerable.
       The recommended workaround is to modify
       /etc/rc.config.d/nddconf and reboot.

    Revision 3: 27 June 2005
        PHNE_33159 is available for B.11.11.

    Revision 4: 10 July 2005
        PHNE_32606 is available for B.11.23.

    HP-UX SPECIFIC SECURITY BULLETINS*: Security Patch Check revision
    B.02.00 analyzes all HP-issued Security Bulletins to provide a
    subset of recommended actions that potentially affect a specific
    HP-UX system.

    For more information:
    http://www.software.hp.com/cgi-bin/swdepot_parser.cgi/cgi/
    displayProductInfo.pl?productNumber=B6834AA

    SUPPORT: For further information, contact normal HP Services
    support channel.

    REPORT: To report a potential security vulnerability with any HP
    supported product, send Email to: security-alert@hp.com. It is
    strongly recommended that security related information being
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    * The Software Product Category that this Security Bulletin
      relates to is represented by the 5th and 6th characters of the
      Bulletin number:
        GN = HP General SW,
        MA = HP Management Agents,
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    System management and security procedures must be reviewed
    frequently to maintain system integrity. HP is continually
    reviewing and enhancing the security features of software products
    to provide customers with current secure solutions.

    "HP is broadly distributing this Security Bulletin in order to
    bring to the attention of users of the affected HP products the
    important security information contained in this Bulletin. HP
    recommends that all users determine the applicability of this
    information to their individual situations and take appropriate
    action. HP does not warrant that this information is necessarily
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    will not be responsible for any damages resulting from user's use
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    (c)Copyright 2005 Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
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    editorial errors or omissions contained herein. The information
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    --
    Yours truly,
    HP S/W Security Team
    WTEC Cupertino, California
    Return-Path: secure@cup.hp.com
    Reply-to: security-alert@hp.com
    

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