Can someone from XForce please take the time to consider all aspects of this
recently announced exploit?  For example, organizations that have configured
snort to run on a "stealth" interface only should not be impacted under any
circumstances and therefore should not impetuously scramble to download and
deploy the latest build.  

For example:  The section "It is also not necessary to know the
network location of a Snort sensor. Exploit packets can be sent to any
portion
of a network upon which a target Snort sensor is listening"
"A successful attack can either crash the Snort
sensor, or lead to complete remote compromise."

Understandably this can potentially crash the snort daemon, cause the system
to hang, or in a best case scenario generate a genuine buffer overflow and
thereby render the system open to arbritary code.  However, providing the
intruder crafts a framgemented RPC packet and targets this at any asset on
the known network where there also happens to be snort IDS system running in
stealth mode.  What possible advantage can the intruder have on following up
with a attempting to take control of the compromised snort system?
Additionally if snort if running in non-promiscuous mode, what are the
possiblities of the intruder obtaining and highjacking a layer 2 address
from the snort system?

It may be advantageous to inform the public about the full scope of this
exploit as well as any potential restrictions or drawbacks.

Thanks

Tim Slighter

-----Original Message-----
From: X-Force [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]
Sent: Monday, March 03, 2003 10:50 AM
To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Subject: [ISSForum] ISS Security Brief: Snort RPC Preprocessing
Vulnerability


-----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE-----

Internet Security Systems Security Brief
March 3, 2003

Snort RPC Preprocessing Vulnerability

Synopsis:

ISS X-Force has discovered a remotely exploitable buffer overflow condition
in Snort. Snort is an open source intrusion detection system. A buffer
overflow flaw exists in Snort RPC preprocessing code that is vulnerable to
attack.

Impact:

Remote attackers may exploit the buffer overflow condition to run arbitrary
code on a Snort sensor with the privileges of the Snort IDS process, which
typically runs as the superuser. The vulnerable preprocessor is enabled by
default. It is not necessary to establish an actual connection to a RPC
portmapper service to exploit this vulnerability.

Snort may be installed by default on some commercially available network-
security appliances. Remote attackers can exploit this vulnerability by
directing the exploit towards any host on any network monitored by the Snort
intrusion detection system. A successful attack can either crash the Snort
sensor, or lead to complete remote compromise.

Affected Versions:

Snort 1.8 (July 2001) up to and including Snort-Current (March 3, 2003 1pm
ET)

For the complete ISS X-Force Security Advisory, please visit: 
http://www.iss.net/issEn/delivery/xforce/alertdetail.jsp?oid=21951

______

About Internet Security Systems (ISS)
Founded in 1994, Internet Security Systems (ISS) (Nasdaq: ISSX) is a
pioneer and world leader in software and services that protect critical
online resources from an ever-changing spectrum of threats and misuse.
Internet Security Systems is headquartered in Atlanta, GA, with
additional operations throughout the Americas, Asia, Australia, Europe
and the Middle East.

Copyright (c) 2003 Internet Security Systems, Inc. All rights reserved
worldwide.

Permission is hereby granted for the electronic redistribution of this
document. It is not to be edited or altered in any way without the
express written consent of the Internet Security Systems X-Force. If
you wish to reprint the whole or any part of this document in any other
medium excluding electronic media, please email [EMAIL PROTECTED] for
permission. 

Disclaimer: The information within this paper may change without notice.
Use of this information constitutes acceptance for use in an AS IS
condition. There are NO warranties, implied or otherwise, with regard to
this information or its use. Any use of this information is at the
user's risk. In no event shall the author/distributor (Internet Security
Systems X-Force) be held liable for any damages whatsoever arising out
of or in connection with the use or spread of this information.
X-Force PGP Key available on MIT's PGP key server and PGP.com's key server,
as well as at http://www.iss.net/security_center/sensitive.php
Please send suggestions, updates, and comments to: X-Force
[EMAIL PROTECTED] of Internet Security Systems, Inc.


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