Updated: May 31, 2003
Status
Affected
Vendor Statement
23.FEB.1993
SOURCE: Digital Equipment Corporation
AUTHOR: Software Security Response Team
Colorado Springs USA
PRODUCT: OpenVMS V5.0 through V5.5-2 & OpenVMS AXP V1.0
PROBLEM: Potential Security Vulnerability - OpenVMS
SOLUTION: A remedial kit is now available for
OpenVMS AXP V1.0 and OpenVMS V5.0 through
V5.5-2 (including all SEVMS versions V5.1 through
V5.5-2 as applicable) by contacting your normal
Digital Services Support organization.
SEVERITY LEVEL: High
This potential vulnerability has been corrected in the next release of
OpenVMS V6.0 and OpenVMS AXP V1.5. For VMS Versions prior to
OpenVMS V5.0, Digital strongly recommends that you upgrade to a
minimum of OpenVMS V5.0 and further, to the latest release of
OpenVMS V5.5-2.
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The remedial kits may be identified as:
VAXSYS01_U2050 VMS V5.0, V5.0-1, V5.0-2
VAXSYS01_U1051 VMS V5.1
VAXSYS01_U1052 VMS V5.2
VAXSYS01_U2053 VMS V5.3 thru V5.3-2
VAXSYS01_U3054 VMS V5.4 thru V5.4-3
VAXSYS02_U2055 OpenVMS V5.5 thru V5.5-2
AXPSYS01_010 OpenVMS AXP V1.0
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Copyright (c) Digital Equipment Corporation, 1993 All Rights Reserved.
Published Rights Reserved Under The Copyright Laws Of The United States.
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ADVISORY INFORMATION:
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This update kit corrects a potential security vulnerability in
the OpenVMS VAX and OpenVMS AXP operating systems. This potential
vulnerability may be further exploited in the form of a malicious program
that may allow authorized but unprivileged users to obtain all system
privileges, potentially giving the unprivileged user control of your
OpenVMS system and data.
NOTE:
The update kit must be applied if an update or installation is performed
for all versions prior to OpenVMS V6.0 or OpenVMS AXP V1.5. For VMS
Versions prior to OpenVMS V5.0, Digital strongly recommends that
you upgrade to a minimum of OpenVMS V5.0 and further to the
latest release of OpenVMS V5.5-2.
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INFORMATION:
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Digital strongly recommends that you install the available kit on your
system(s), to avoid any potential vulnerability as a result of this
problem.
Customers with a Digital Services contract may obtain a kit for the
affected versions of OpenVMS by contacting your normal support
organizations.
- In the U.S. Customers may contact the Customer Support Center
at 1(800)354-9000 and request the appropriate kit for your version
of OpenVMS, or through DSNlink Text Search database using the
keyword text "Potential Security Vulnerability", or DSNlink VTX using
the patch number 1084.
- Customers in other geographies should contact their normal Digital
Services support organizations.
As always, Digital recommends you to regularly review your system
management and security procedures. Digital will continue to review and
enhance security features, and work with our customers to further improve
the integrity of their systems.
Vendor Information
The vendor has not provided us with any further information regarding this vulnerability.
Addendum
This statement above was released by Digital Equipment Corporation, which was acquired by Compaq Computer Corporation. Compaq merged with Hewlett-Packard in May, 2002.
If you have feedback, comments, or additional information about this vulnerability, please send us email.