Hewlett-Packard HP-UX Remote ldcconn Buffer Overflow Vulnerability

iDefense Security Advisory 08.07.07
http://labs.idefense.com/intelligence/vulnerabilities/
Aug 07, 2007

I. BACKGROUND

Cisco Local Director is a load-balancing, connection fail-over device
used to help manage large enterprise networks. HP-UX allows for easy
interfacing with Cisco Local Director using the HP Controller for Cisco
Local Director package. In this package is ldcconn, which is configured
to run via inetd on TCP port 17781.

II. DESCRIPTION

Remote exploitation of a buffer overflow vulnerability in ldcconn allows
attackers to execute arbitrary code with root privileges.

By sending a long string to the TCP port that ldcconn listens on, a
buffer overflow is triggered. No authentication or data validation is
performed.

III. ANALYSIS

Exploitation allows unauthenticated remote attackers to gain root access
on affected machines.

The seriousness of this vulnerability is increased by the fact that in
most cases an attacker will have unlimited attempts at successful
exploitation due to the fact that inetd will continue to launch the
service for each new connection.

IV. DETECTION

iDefense confirmed the existence of this vulnerability in HP-UX 11.11i.
It is suspected that other versions are also vulnerable.

To determine if ldcconn is installed on your specific install, use the
command:

  # swlist -l file | grep ldcconn

If this command returns anything, it means it is installed. To tell if
it is currently configured to run from inetd, use the command:

  # grep ldcconn /etc/inetd.conf

If it returns an entry, that means it is currently configured to run
from inetd.

V. WORKAROUND

Firewall rules should be set to only allow Cisco equipment to access the
service (port 17781).

If the service is not being used, simply remove, or comment out, the
entry in /etc/inetd.conf and restart inetd.

VI. VENDOR RESPONSE

Hewlett-Packard states that this product is obsolete and no longer
supported. They have no plans to release a patch or advisory. They
further stated that the version of HP-UX used to verify this
vulnerability is also obsolete.

"HP simply recommends that customers upgrade to a currently supported OS
release and to some other tool, if one is available."

VII. CVE INFORMATION

A Mitre Corp. Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures (CVE) number has not
been assigned yet.

VIII. DISCLOSURE TIMELINE

11/02/2004  Initial vendor notification
11/03/2004  Initial vendor response
12/19/2005  Second vendor notification
01/30/2007  Third vendor notification
01/30/2007  Third vendor response
04/25/2007  Status update requested
06/08/2007  Status update requested
07/24/2007  Status update requested
07/30/2007  Vendor stated product's support ended in 2002
08/06/2007  Vendor communicated their response
08/07/2007  Coordinated public disclosure

IX. CREDIT

This vulnerability was discovered by iDefense Labs.

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X. LEGAL NOTICES

Copyright © 2007 iDefense, Inc.

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Disclaimer: The information in the advisory is believed to be accurate
at the time of publishing based on currently available information. Use
of the information constitutes acceptance for use in an AS IS condition.
 There are no warranties with regard to this information. Neither the
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