ntp security update (RHSA-2009-1648)

Original Release Date: January 4, 2010
Last Revised: April 19, 2013
Number: ASA-2009-591
Risk Level: Medium
Advisory Version: 5.0
Advisory Status: Final

1. Overview:

The Network Time Protocol (NTP) is used to synchronize a computer's time with a referenced time source.

A flaw was discovered in the way ntpd handled certain malformed NTP packets. ntpd logged information about all such packets and replied with an NTP packet that was treated as malformed when received by another ntpd. A remote attacker could use this flaw to create an NTP packet reply loop between two ntpd servers via a malformed packet with a spoofed source IP address and port, causing ntpd on those servers to use excessive amounts of CPU time and fill disk space with log messages. The Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures project (cve.mitre.org) has assigned the name CVE-2009-3563 to this issue.

More information about these vulnerabilities can be found in the security advisory issued by RedHat Linux:

2. Avaya System Products with ntp installed:

Product: Affected Version(s): Risk Level: Actions:
Avaya Aura™ Communication Manager 4.x, 5.x, 5.2.1 Low For CM 5.2 and earlier, upgrade to 5.2.1 and install Security Service Pack 1 or later, or upgrade to CM 6.0 or later.
For CM 5.2.1, install Security Service Pack 1 or later, or upgrade to CM 6.0 or later.
Avaya Intuity AUDIX LX 2.0 including 2.0 SP1 and 2.0 SP2 Medium See recommended actions below. This advisory will not be addressed as no further releases are planned.
Avaya Message Storage Server 4.0, 5.x including 4.0 SP8 and 5.2.1 Medium For MSS 4.0, upgrade to 4.0 SP9 or later.
For MSS 5.2, upgrade to 5.2.2 or later.
Avaya Message Networking 3.1, 5.2 Medium For MN 3.1, upgrade to 3.1 SP5 patch 2 or later.
For MN 5.2, upgrade to 5.2.1 or later.
Avaya Aura™ SIP Enablement Services 5.2.1 and earlier Low For SES 5.2 and earlier, upgrade to 5.2.1 and install Security Service Pack 1 or later.
For SES 5.2.1, install Security Service Pack 1 or later.
Avaya Voice Portal 4.x, 5.0 Medium Upgrade to VP 5.1 or later.
Avaya Meeting Exchange 5.x including 5.2 SP1 Medium Upgrade to MX 5.2 SP2 or later.
Avaya Proactive Contact 4.0, 4.1 Medium Upgrade to PC 4.2 or later.
Avaya Aura™ Application Enablement Services 5.2.x, 4.2 thru 4.2.3 Low For AES 4.2.x, upgrade to 4.2.4 or later.
For AES 5.2.x, upgrade to 6.1 or later.
Avaya Aura™ System Platform 1.1 Medium Upgrade to SP 6.0 or later.

Recommended Actions for System Products:
Avaya strongly recommends that customers follow networking and security best practices by implementing firewalls, ACLs, physical security or other appropriate access restrictions. Though Avaya believes such restrictions should always be in place; risk to Avaya's product and the surrounding network from this potential vulnerability may be mitigated by ensuring these practices are implemented until such time as a product recommended action is applied. Further restrictions as deemed necessary based on the customer's security policies may be required during this interim period.

3. Avaya Software-Only Products:

Avaya software-only products operate on general-purpose operating systems. Occasionally vulnerabilities may be discovered in the underlying operating system or applications that come with the operating system. These vulnerabilities often do not impact the software-only product directly but may threaten the integrity of the underlying platform.

In the case of this advisory Avaya software-only products are not affected by the vulnerability directly but the underlying Linux platform may be. Customers should determine on which Linux operating system the product was installed and then follow that vendor's guidance.

Product: Actions:
CVLAN Depending on the Operating System provided by customers, the affected package may be installed on the underlying Operating System supporting the CVLAN application.
Avaya Integrated Management Suite (IMS) Depending on the Operating System provided by customers, the affected package may be installed on the underlying Operating System supporting the IMS application.
Voice Portal Depending on the Operating System provided by customers, the affected package may be installed on the underlying Operating System supporting the Voice Portal application.
Avaya Aura™ Application Enablement Services 4.x Depending on the Operating System provided by customers, the affected package may be installed on the underlying Operating System supporting the AES application.

Recommended Actions for Software-Only Products:
In the event that the affected package is installed, Avaya recommends that customers follow recommended actions supplied by RedHat Linux.

4. Additional Information:

Additional information may also be available via the Avaya support website and through your Avaya account representative. Please contact your Avaya product support representative, or dial 1-800-242-2121, with any questions.

5. Disclaimer:

ALL INFORMATION IS BELIEVED TO BE CORRECT AT THE TIME OF PUBLICATION AND IS PROVIDED "AS IS". AVAYA INC., ON BEHALF ITSELF AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES AND AFFILIATES (HEREINAFTER COLLECTIVELY REFERRED TO AS "AVAYA"), DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE AND FURTHERMORE, AVAYA MAKES NO REPRESENTATIONS OR WARRANTIES THAT THE STEPS RECOMMENDED WILL ELIMINATE SECURITY OR VIRUS THREATS TO CUSTOMERS' SYSTEMS. IN NO EVENT SHALL AVAYA BE LIABLE FOR ANY DAMAGES WHATSOEVER ARISING OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH THE INFORMATION OR RECOMMENDED ACTIONS PROVIDED HEREIN, INCLUDING DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, STATUTORY, CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES, LOSS OF BUSINESS PROFITS OR SPECIAL DAMAGES, EVEN IF AVAYA HAS BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES.

THE INFORMATION PROVIDED HERE DOES NOT AFFECT THE SUPPORT AGREEMENTS IN PLACE FOR AVAYA PRODUCTS. SUPPORT FOR AVAYA PRODUCTS CONTINUES TO BE EXECUTED AS PER EXISTING AGREEMENTS WITH AVAYA.

6. Revision History:

V 1.0 - January 4, 2010 - Initial Statement issued.
V 2.0 - August 19, 2010 - Changed CM, MSS, MN, SES, VP, MX, AES and SP affected versions and actions.
V 3.0 - September 10, 2010 - Updated CM Actions.
V 4.0 - March 4, 2011 - Changed AES actions and advisory status to final.
V 5.0 - April 19, 2013 - Changed CM and SES affected versions and actions.

Send information regarding any discovered security problems with Avaya products to either the contact noted in the product's documentation or securityalerts@avaya.com.

© 2009 Avaya Inc. All Rights Reserved. All trademarks identified by the ® or ™ are registered trademarks or trademarks, respectively, of Avaya Inc. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.