I. BACKGROUND
QNX Software Systems Ltd.'s Neutrino RTOS (QNX) is a real-time operating
system designed for
use in embedded systems. More information is
available at:
http://www.qnx.com/products/rtos/
II. DESCRIPTION
Local exploitation of a stack-based buffer overflow vulnerability in QNX
Inc.'s Neutrino RTOS
Operating System allows local attackers to gain
root privileges.
The vulnerability specifically exists due to improper handling of
environment variables in
the libph system library. The libph system
library is utilized by various setuid applications
that utilize the
Photon API. The setitem() function fails to check bounds on the
PHOTON_PATH
environment variable prior to a strcpy operation. An
attacker can supply an overly long value
for PHOTON_PATH to overflow the
stack buffer and overwrite the return address as shown here:
Breakpoint 1, 0xb0343624 in strcpy ()
from
/usr/qnx630/target/qnx6/x86/lib/libc.so.2
(gdb) bt
#0 0xb0343624 in strcpy () from
/usr/qnx630/target/qnx6/x86/lib/libc.so.2
#1 0xb826f58b in setitem ()
from
/usr/qnx630/target/qnx6/x86/usr/lib/libph.so.3
#2 0xb826f7ec in additems ()
from
/usr/qnx630/target/qnx6/x86/usr/lib/libph.so.3
#3 0xb826ffa9 in list_modify ()
from
/usr/qnx630/target/qnx6/x86/usr/lib/libph.so.3
#4 0xb82ef2fe in PtSetValue ()
from
/usr/qnx630/target/qnx6/x86/usr/lib/libph.so.3
#5 0xb82c7ceb in PtCompoundSetResources ()
from /usr/qnx630/target/qnx6/x86/usr/lib/libph.so.3
#6 0xb82ed018 in PtSetResources ()
from
/usr/qnx630/target/qnx6/x86/usr/lib/libph.so.3
#7 0xb8244bf3 in set_list_res ()
from
/usr/qnx630/target/qnx6/x86/usr/lib/libph.so.3
#8 0xb82ef2fe in PtSetValue ()
from
/usr/qnx630/target/qnx6/x86/usr/lib/libph.so.3
#9 0xb82c7ceb in PtCompoundSetResources ()
from /usr/qnx630/target/qnx6/x86/usr/lib/libph.so.3
#10 0xb82ed018 in PtSetResources ()
from
/usr/qnx630/target/qnx6/x86/usr/lib/libph.so.3
#11 0x0804db32 in main ()
#12 0x44444444 in ??
()
Attackers can supply a specially crafted value to overflow the buffer
and execute arbitrary
code.
III. ANALYSIS
Successful exploitation of the vulnerability allows local attackers to
gain root privileges.
The libph library is a core system library on
Neutrino RTOS, however it has had a number of
trivial vulnerabilities
similar to this one.
IV. DETECTION
iDefense has confirmed the existence of this vulnerability on QNX
Neutrino RTOS 6.3.0. All
versions are suspected vulnerable.
V. WORKAROUND
As a workaround solution, remove the setuid bit from any programs linked
to libph.so.3. An
example is shown here:
# ls -l /usr/photon/bin/phlocale
-rwsrwxr-x 1 root root 54244
May 05 2004 /usr/photon/bin/phlocale
# ldd
/usr/photon/bin/phlocale
/usr/photon/bin/phlocale:
libAp.so.3 => /usr/lib/libAp.so.3
(0xb8200000)
libph.so.3 => /usr/lib/libph.so.3 (0xb8210000)
libphrender.so.2 =>
/usr/lib/libphrender.so.2 (0xb8312000)
libm.so.2 => /lib/libm.so.2 (0xb8347000)
libfont.so.1 => /lib/libfont.so.1 (0xb8363000)
libc.so.2 => /usr/lib/ldqnx.so.2
(0xb0300000)
# chmod -s /usr/photon/bin/phlocale
VI. VENDOR RESPONSE
This issue has been corrected in QNX Momentics 6.3.0 SP3 and later
versions. Patches are also available for 6.3.0 (Patch ID:230), 6.3.0
SP1 (Patch ID:231), and 6.3.0 SP2 (Patch ID:232). Please contact your
QNX representative, or visit http://www.qnx.com/account/login.html to
obtain these patches.
VII. CVE INFORMATION
A Mitre Corp. Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures (CVE) number has not
been assigned yet.
VIII. DISCLOSURE TIMELINE
12/15/2005 Initial vendor notification
02/07/2006 Public disclosure
IX. CREDIT
iDefense credits Filipe Balestra (filipe@balestra.com.br) with the
discovery of this
vulnerability.
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X. LEGAL NOTICES
Copyright © 2006 iDefense, Inc.
Permission is granted for the redistribution of this alert
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edited in any way without the express
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part of this alert in any other medium other than electronically, please
email customerservice@idefense.com for permission.
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
author nor the publisher accepts any liability for any direct,
indirect,
or consequential loss or damage arising from use of, or reliance on,
this
information.
