openswan security update (RHSA-2013-0827)

Original Release Date: June 7, 2013
Last Revised: June 12, 2014
Number: ASA-2013-280
Risk Level: Low
Advisory Version: 2.0
Advisory Status: Final

1. Overview:

Openswan is a free implementation of Internet Protocol Security (IPsec) and Internet Key Exchange (IKE). IPsec uses strong cryptography to provide both authentication and encryption services. These services allow you to build secure tunnels through untrusted networks. When using Opportunistic Encryption, Openswan's pluto IKE daemon requests DNS TXT records to obtain public RSA keys of itself and its peers.

A buffer overflow flaw was found in Openswan. If Opportunistic Encryption were enabled ("oe=yes" in "/etc/ipsec.conf") and an RSA key configured, an attacker able to cause a system to perform a DNS lookup for an attacker-controlled domain containing malicious records (such as by sending an email that triggers a DKIM or SPF DNS record lookup) could cause Openswan's pluto IKE daemon to crash or, potentially, execute arbitrary code with root privileges. With "oe=yes" but no RSA key configured, the issue can only be triggered by attackers on the local network who can control the reverse DNS entry of the target system. Opportunistic Encryption is disabled by default. The Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures project (cve.mitre.org) has assigned the name CVE-2013-2053 to this issue.

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 RHEL5 or RHEL6 with affected packages installed:

Product: Affected Version(s): Risk Level: Actions:
Avaya Aura® Application Server 5300:
  • SIP Core
2.x, 3.0 thru 3.0 SP5 Low For 2.x, upgrade to 3.0 and install SP6 or later.
For 3.0, install SP6 or later.
Avaya Aura® Conferencing 7.0 Low Upgrade to 7.2 or later.

Recommended Actions for System Products:
Avaya strongly recommends following the 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 products and the surrounding network from this potential vulnerability may be mitigated by ensuring these practices are implemented until such time as an Avaya provided product update or the recommended Avaya action is applied. Further restrictions as deemed necessary based on the customer's security policies may be required during this interim period, but the System Product operating system or application should not be modified unless the change is approved by Avaya. Making changes that are not approved may void the Avaya product service contract.

Mitigating Factors:

When determining risk, Avaya takes into account many factors as outlined by Avaya's Security Vulnerability Classification Policy. The following table describes factors that mitigate the risk of specific vulnerabilities for affected Avaya products:

Vulnerability Mitigating Factors
CVE-2013-2053
This is a low risk for AS5300 because Opportunistic Encryption is disabled by default.
This is a low risk for Conferencing because IPSEC is not used or supported by default and exploit requires privileged user permissions which would not provide additional capability.

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 installed, the affected package may be installed on the underlying Operating System supporting the AES 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.
Avaya Secure Access Link Gateway Depending on the Operating System installed, the affected package may be installed on the underlying Operating System supporting the SAL Gateway application.
Avaya Aura® System Manager 1.0 Depending on the Operating System installed, the affected package may be installed on the underlying Operating System supporting the SMGR application.
Avaya Voice Portal Depending on the Operating System installed, the affected package may be installed on the underlying Operating System supporting the VP application.

Recommended Actions for Software-Only Products:
In the event that the affected package is installed, Avaya recommends following the 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 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 - June 7, 2013 - Initial Statement issued.
V 2.0 - June 12, 2014 - Changed AS5300 and AAC affected versions and actions, and set 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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