Scientific Linux Security Update : xinetd on SL6.x i386/x86_64 (20130221)

medium Nessus Plugin ID 64961

Synopsis

The remote Scientific Linux host is missing one or more security updates.

Description

When xinetd services are configured with the 'TCPMUX' or 'TCPMUXPLUS' type, and the tcpmux-server service is enabled, those services are accessible via port 1. It was found that enabling the tcpmux-server service (it is disabled by default) allowed every xinetd service, including those that are not configured with the 'TCPMUX' or 'TCPMUXPLUS' type, to be accessible via port 1. This could allow a remote attacker to bypass intended firewall restrictions.
(CVE-2012-0862)

This update also fixes the following bugs :

- Prior to this update, a file descriptor array in the service.c source file was not handled as expected. As a consequence, some of the descriptors remained open when xinetd was under heavy load. Additionally, the system log was filled with a large number of messages that took up a lot of disk space over time. This update modifies the xinetd code to handle the file descriptors correctly and messages no longer fill the system log.

- Prior to this update, services were disabled permanently when their CPS limit was reached. As a consequence, a failed bind operation could occur when xinetd attempted to restart the service. This update adds additional logic that attempts to restart the service. Now, the service is only disabled if xinetd cannot restart the service after 30 attempts.

Solution

Update the affected xinetd and / or xinetd-debuginfo packages.

See Also

http://www.nessus.org/u?7ad4cf05

Plugin Details

Severity: Medium

ID: 64961

File Name: sl_20130221_xinetd_on_SL6_x.nasl

Version: 1.5

Type: local

Agent: unix

Published: 3/1/2013

Updated: 1/14/2021

Supported Sensors: Nessus Agent, Nessus

Risk Information

VPR

Risk Factor: Low

Score: 3.4

CVSS v2

Risk Factor: Medium

Base Score: 4.3

Vector: CVSS2#AV:N/AC:M/Au:N/C:P/I:N/A:N

Vulnerability Information

CPE: p-cpe:/a:fermilab:scientific_linux:xinetd, p-cpe:/a:fermilab:scientific_linux:xinetd-debuginfo, x-cpe:/o:fermilab:scientific_linux

Required KB Items: Host/local_checks_enabled, Host/RedHat/release, Host/RedHat/rpm-list, Host/cpu

Patch Publication Date: 2/21/2013

Vulnerability Publication Date: 6/4/2012

Reference Information

CVE: CVE-2012-0862