perl security update (RHSA-2010-0457)

Original Release Date: July 9, 2010
Last Revised: March 15, 2013
Number: ASA-2010-172
Risk Level: Low
Advisory Version: 7.0
Advisory Status: Final

1. Overview:

Perl is a high-level programming language commonly used for system administration utilities and web programming. The Safe extension module allows users to compile and execute Perl code in restricted compartments.

The Safe module did not properly restrict the code of implicitly called methods (such as DESTROY and AUTOLOAD) on implicitly blessed objects returned as a result of unsafe code evaluation. These methods could have been executed unrestricted by Safe when such objects were accessed or destroyed. A specially-crafted Perl script executed inside of a Safe compartment could use this flaw to bypass intended Safe module restrictions. The Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures project (cve.mitre.org) has assigned the name CVE-2010-1168 to this issue.

The Safe module did not properly restrict code compiled in a Safe compartment and executed out of the compartment via a subroutine reference returned as a result of unsafe code evaluation. A specially-crafted Perl script executed inside of a Safe compartment could use this flaw to bypass intended Safe module restrictions, if the returned subroutine reference was called from outside of the compartment. The Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures project (cve.mitre.org) has assigned the name CVE-2010-1447 to this issue.

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

2. Avaya System Products using RHEL3 or RHEL4 with perl installed:

Product: Affected Version(s): Risk Level: Actions:
Avaya Aura™ Application Enablement Services 4.0 thru 4.2.3 Low Upgrade to AES 4.2.4 or later.
Avaya Aura™ Communication Manager 4.x, 5.0 thru 5.2.x Low Upgrade to CM 5.2.1 with Security Service Pack PLAT-rhel4-1008 installed or upgrade to CM 6.0.
Avaya Intuity AUDIX LX 2.0 including 2.0 SP1 and 2.0 SP2 Low See recommended actions below. This advisory will not be addressed as no further releases are planned.
Avaya Meeting Exchange 5.x Low Upgrade to MX 6.2 or later.
Avaya Message Networking 5.2.3 and earlier Low Upgrade to MN 5.2.4 or later.
Avaya Messaging Storage Server 5.0.x, 5.1.x, 5.2 thru 5.2.8 Low Upgrade to MSS 5.2.9 or later.
Avaya Proactive Contact 4.0, 4.1. 4.2 Low Upgrade to PC 4.2.1 or later.
Avaya Aura™ SIP Enablement Services All Low See recommended actions below. This advisory will not be addressed as no further releases are planned.
Avaya Voice Portal 4.x Low Upgrade to VP 5.0 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 update is available or the 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:
Avaya Aura™ Application Enablement Services 4.x/5.x Depending on the Operating System provided by customers, the affected package may be installed on the underlying Operating System supporting the AES application.
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.
Avaya Aura™ Presence Services Depending on the Operating System provided by customers, the affected package may be installed on the underlying Operating System supporting the PS application.
Avaya Aura™ System Manager 1.0 Depending on the Operating System provided by customers, the affected package may be installed on the underlying Operating System supporting the SMGR 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.

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 - July 9, 2010 - Initial Statement issued.
V 2.0 - September 15, 2010 - Changed CM Actions.
V 3.0 - January 18, 2011 - Changed AES and PC affected versions and actions.
V 4.0 - December 9 2011 - Changed VP actions.
V 5.0 - December 16, 2011 - Changed MN affected versions and actions.
V 6.0 - February 28, 2012 - Changed MSS affected versions and actions.
V 7.0 - March 15, 2013 - Changed MX actions and advisory status to final.

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

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