Subject UMN UNIX gopher and gopher+ Vulnerabilities Date 09-Aug-93
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>> CERT-NL, 01-Mar-2000 <<
>> All CERT-NL information has been moved to http://cert.surfnet.nl. Links <<
>> to CERT-NL information contained in this advisory are therefore outdated. <<
>> <<
>> CERT-NL also has stopped the CERT-CC-Mirror service. Due to this the <<
>> links to the CERT-CC mirror are obsolete. Visit the CERT-CC site for the <<
>> complete CERT-CC advisory texts: http://www.cert.org <<
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Security Advisory CERT-NL
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Author/Source : CERT-NL (Erik-Jan Bos) Index : S-93-16
Distribution : World Page : 1
Classification: External Version: Final
Subject : UMN UNIX gopher and gopher+ Vulnerabilities Date : 09-Aug-93
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CERT-NL has received information concerning vulnerabilities in versions
of the UMN UNIX gopher and gopher+ server and client available before
August 6, 1993. Vulnerable versions were available on
boombox.micro.umn.edu:/pub/gopher/Unix/gopher1.12s.tar.Z,
boombox.micro.umn.edu:/pub/gopher/Unix/gopher2.03.tar.Z, and many other
anonymous FTP sites mirroring these software versions.
CERT-NL strongly recommends that any site using versions of UMN UNIX
gopher and gopher+ dated prior to August 6, 1993 (including version
1.12, 1.12s, 2.0+, 2.03, and all earlier versions) immediately take
corrective action.
If you have further questions regarding UMN UNIX gopher or gopher+ software,
send e-mail to: gopher@boombox.micro.umn.edu
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I. Description
Several vulnerabilities have been identified in UMN UNIX gopher
and gopher+ when configured as a server or public access client.
Intruders are known to have exploited these vulnerabilities to
obtain password files. Other actions may also have been taken by
intruders exploiting these vulnerabilities. CERT has already
contacted those sites currently known to have been victims of
these activities. However, sites may want to check for weak
passwords, or consider changing passwords, after installing the
new gopher software.
II. Impact
Anyone (remote or local) can potentially gain unrestricted access
to the account running the public access client, thereby
permitting them to read any files accessible to this account
(possibly including /etc/passwd or other sensitive files).
In certain configurations, anyone (remote or local) can
potentially gain access to any account, including root, on a host
configured as a server running gopherd.
III. Solution
Affected sites should consider disabling gopherd service and
public gopher logins until they have installed the new software.
New versions of the UMN UNIX gopher and gopher+ software have been
released that provide bug fixes and correct these security problems.
Sites can obtain these new versions via anonymous FTP from
boombox.micro.umn.edu (134.84.132.2). The files are located in:
Filename Size Checksum
-------- ------ -----------
Gopher:
/pub/gopher/Unix/gopher1.12S.tar.Z 306872 46311 300
Gopher+:
/pub/gopher/Unix/gopher2.04.tar.Z 294872 29411 288
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CERT-NL wishes to thank CERT Coordination Center for supplying CERT-NL
with their Advisory, which text is used in this CERT-NL advisory.
The CERT Coordination Center wishes to thank Matt Schroth, Williams
College, and others for informing us of these vulnerabilities. We
would also like to thank Paul Lindner, University of Minnesota, for his
quick response to these problems.
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CERT-NL is the Computer Emergency Response Team for SURFnet customers. SURFnet
is the Dutch network for educational, research and related institutes. CERT-NL
is a member of the Forum of Incident Response and Security Teams (FIRST).
All CERT-NL material is available under:
http://cert.surfnet.nl/
In case of computer or network security problems please contact your local
CERT/security-team or CERT-NL (if your institute is NOT a SURFnet customer
please address the appropriate (local) CERT/security-team).
CERT-NL is one/two hour(s) ahead of UTC (GMT) in winter/summer,
i.e. UTC+0100 in winter and UTC+0200 in summer (DST).
Email: cert-nl@surfnet.nl ATTENDED REGULARLY ALL DAYS
Phone: +31 302 305 305 BUSINESS HOURS ONLY
Fax: +31 302 305 329 BUSINESS HOURS ONLY
Snailmail: SURFnet bv
Attn. CERT-NL
P.O. Box 19035
NL - 3501 DA UTRECHT
The Netherlands
NOODGEVALLEN: 06 22 92 35 64 ALTIJD BEREIKBAAR
EMERGENCIES : +31 6 22 92 35 64 ATTENDED AT ALL TIMES
CERT-NL'S EMERGENCY PHONENUMBER IS ONLY TO BE USED IN CASE OF EMERGENCIES:
THE SURFNET HELPDESK OPERATING THE EMERGENCY NUMBER HAS A *FIXED*
PROCEDURE FOR DEALING WITH YOUR ALERT AND WILL IN REGULAR CASES RELAY IT
TO CERT-NL IN AN APPROPRIATE MANNER. CERT-NL WILL THEN CONTACT YOU.
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