openssl security update (RHSA-2016-0306)

Original Release Date: March 10, 2016
Last Revised: March 10, 2016
Number: ASA-2016-088
Risk Level: None
Advisory Version: 1.0
Advisory Status: Final

1. Overview:

OpenSSL is a toolkit that implements the Secure Sockets Layer (SSL v2/v3) and Transport Layer Security (TLS v1) protocols, as well as a full-strength, general purpose cryptography library.

A padding oracle flaw was found in the Secure Sockets Layer version 2.0 (SSLv2) protocol. An attacker can potentially use this flaw to decrypt RSA-encrypted cipher text from a connection using a newer SSL/TLS protocol version, allowing them to decrypt such connections. This cross-protocol attack is publicly referred to as DROWN. The Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures project (cve.mitre.org) has assigned the name CVE-2016-0800 to this issue.

Note: This issue was addressed by disabling the SSLv2 protocol by default when using the 'SSLv23' connection methods, and removing support for weak SSLv2 cipher suites. It is possible to re-enable the SSLv2 protocol in the 'SSLv23' connection methods by default by setting the OPENSSL_ENABLE_SSL2 environment variable before starting an application that needs to have SSLv2 enabled. For more information, refer to the knowledge base article linked to in the References section.

It was discovered that the SSLv2 servers using OpenSSL accepted SSLv2 connection handshakes that indicated non-zero clear key length for non-export cipher suites. An attacker could use this flaw to decrypt recorded SSLv2 sessions with the server by using it as a decryption oracle.The Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures project (cve.mitre.org) has assigned the name CVE-2016-0703 to this issue.

It was discovered that the SSLv2 protocol implementation in OpenSSL did not properly implement the Bleichenbacher protection for export cipher suites. An attacker could use a SSLv2 server using OpenSSL as a Bleichenbacher oracle. The Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures project (cve.mitre.org) has assigned the name CVE-2016-0704 to this issue.

Note: The CVE-2016-0703 and CVE-2016-0704 issues could allow for more efficient exploitation of the CVE-2016-0800 issue via the DROWN attack.

A denial of service flaw was found in the way OpenSSL handled SSLv2 handshake messages. A remote attacker could use this flaw to cause a TLS/SSL server using OpenSSL to exit on a failed assertion if it had both the SSLv2 protocol and EXPORT-grade cipher suites enabled. The Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures project (cve.mitre.org) has assigned the name CVE-2015-0293 to this issue.

A flaw was found in the way malicious SSLv2 clients could negotiate SSLv2 ciphers that have been disabled on the server. This could result in weak SSLv2 ciphers being used for SSLv2 connections, making them vulnerable to man-in-the-middle attacks. The Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures project (cve.mitre.org) has assigned the name CVE-2015-3197 to this issue.

No Avaya system products are vulnerable, as the affected versions of openssl are not installed by default.

More information about these vulnerabilities can be found in the security advisory issued by Red Hat:

2. Avaya System Products using a modified version of RHEL4 with affected packages installed: None

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 Depending on the Operating System installed, the affected package may be installed on the underlying Operating System supporting the AES application.
Avaya IQ Depending on the Operating System installed, the affected package may be installed on the underlying Operating System supporting the Avaya IQ application.
CVLAN Depending on the Operating System installed, the affected package may be installed on the underlying Operating System supporting the CVLAN application.
Avaya Aura® Experience Portal Depending on the Operating System installed, the affected package may be installed on the underlying Operating System supporting the EP application.
Avaya Integrated Management Suite (IMS) Depending on the Operating System installed, the affected package may be installed on the underlying Operating System supporting the IMS application.
Avaya Aura® Presence Services Depending on the Operating System installed, the affected package may be installed on the underlying Operating System supporting the PS application.

Recommended Actions for Software-Only Products:
In the event that the affected package is installed, Avaya recommends following recommended actions supplied by Red Hat regarding their Enterprise 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, IS PROVIDED "AS IS", AND IS APPLICABLE ONLY TO PRODUCT VERSIONS ELIGIBLE FOR MANUFACTURER SUPPORT IN ACCORDANCE WITH AVAYA PRODUCT LIFE CYCLE POLICY. 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 - March 10, 2016 - Initial Statement issued.

Avaya customers or Business Partners should report any security issues found with Avaya products via the standard support process.
Independent security researchers can contact Avaya at securityalerts@avaya.com.

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