coreutils security update (RHSA-2008-0780)

Original Release Date: 8/28/2008
Last Revised: August 28, 2008
Number: ASA-2008-364
Risk Level: Low
Advisory Version: 1.0
Advisory Status: Interim

1. Overview:

The coreutils package contains the core GNU utilities. It is the combination of the old GNU fileutils, sh-utils, and textutils packages.

The coreutils packages were found to not use the pam_succeed_if Pluggable Authentication Module (PAM) correctly in the configuration file for the "su" command. Any local user could use this command to change to a locked or expired user account if the target account's password was known to the user running "su". These updated packages, correctly, only allow the root user to switch to locked or expired accounts using "su". The Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures project (cve.mitre.org) has assigned the name CVE-2008-1946 to this issue.

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

2. Avaya System Products with coreutils installed:

Product: Affected Version(s): Risk Level: Actions:
Avaya Communication Manager None None None
Avaya Intuity AUDIX LX IALX 2.0 Low See recommended actions below.  This issue will be addressed in accordance with Avaya's Product Security Vulnerability Response Policy
Avaya EMMC All Low See recommended actions below.  This issue will be addressed in accordance with Avaya's Product Security Vulnerability Response Policy
Avaya Messaging Storage Server MSS 3.x Low See recommended actions below.  This issue will be addressed in accordance with Avaya's Product Security Vulnerability Response Policy
Avaya Message Networking MN 3.1 Low See recommended actions below.  This issue will be addressed in accordance with Avaya's Product Security Vulnerability Response Policy
Avaya SIP Enablement Services None None None
Avaya Voice Portal 3.x, 4.x Low See recommended actions below.  This issue will be addressed in accordance with Avaya's Product Security Vulnerability Response Policy
Avaya Meeting Exchange ME 5.0 Low See recommended actions below.  This issue will be addressed in accordance with Avaya's Product Security Vulnerability Response Policy
Avaya Proactive Contact PC 4.0 Low See recommended actions below.  This issue will be addressed in accordance with Avaya's Product Security Vulnerability Response Policy
Avaya AES 4.2.1 Low See recommended actions below.  This issue will be addressed in accordance with Avaya's Product Security Vulnerability Response Policy

Recommended Actions:
For all vulnerable system products, Avaya recommends that customers restrict local and network access to the server. This restriction should be enforced through the use of physical security, firewalls, ACLs, VPNs, and other generally-accepted networking practices until such time as an update becomes available and can be installed.

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.

Recommended Actions:
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 - August 28, 2008 - Initial Statement issued.

Send information regarding any discovered security problems with Avaya products to either the contact noted in the product's documentation or [email protected].

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