Date: Wed, 5 Jul 2000 16:14:42 -0700
From: FreeBSD Security Advisories security-advisories@freebsd.org
To: BUGTRAQ@SECURITYFOCUS.COM
Subject: FreeBSD Ports Security Advisory:
FreeBSD-SA-00:32.bitchx
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FreeBSD-SA-00:32 Security Advisory
FreeBSD, Inc.
Topic: bitchx port contains client-side vulnerability
Category: ports
Module: bitchx
Announced: 2000-07-05
Affects: Ports collection.
Corrected: 2000-07-03
Vendor status: Patch released
FreeBSD only: NO
I. Background
BitchX is a popular IRC client.
II. Problem Description
The bitchx client incorrectly parses string-formatting operators
included as part of channel invitation messages sent by remote IRC
users. This can cause the local client to crash, and may possibly
present the ability to execute arbitrary code as the local
user.
The bitchx port is not installed by default, nor is it “part of
FreeBSD” as such: it is part of the FreeBSD ports collection, which
contains over 3400 third-party applications in a ready-to-install
format. The ports collections shipped with FreeBSD 4.0 and 3.5
contain this problem since it was discovered after the release.
FreeBSD makes no claim about the security of these third-party
applications, although an effort is underway to provide a security
audit of the most security-critical ports.
III. Impact
Remote IRC users can cause the local client to crash, and
possibly execute code as the local user.
If you have not chosen to install the bitchx port/package, then
your system is not vulnerable to this problem.
IV. Workaround
Issue the following bitchx command (e.g. as part of a startup
script):
/ignore * invites
which will disable processing of channel invitation
messages.
V. Solution
One of the following:
1) Upgrade your entire ports collection and rebuild the bitchx
port.
2) Deinstall the old package and install a new package dated
after the correction date, obtained from:
ftp://ftp.FreeBSD.org/pub/FreeBSD/ports/i386/packages-3-stable/irc/bitchx-1.0c16.tar.gz
ftp://ftp.FreeBSD.org/pub/FreeBSD/ports/i386/packages-4-stable/irc/bitchx-1.0c16.tar.gz
ftp://ftp.FreeBSD.org/pub/FreeBSD/ports/alpha/packages-4-stable/irc/bitchx-1.0c16.tar.gz
ftp://ftp.FreeBSD.org/pub/FreeBSD/ports/i386/packages-5-current/irc/bitchx-1.0c16.tar.gz
ftp://ftp.FreeBSD.org/pub/FreeBSD/ports/alpha/packages-5-current/irc/bitchx-1.0c16.tar.gz
NOTE: It may be several days before updated packages are
available. Be sure to check the file creation date on the package,
because the version number of the software has not changed.
3) download a new port skeleton for the bitchx port from:
and use it to rebuild the port.
4) Use the portcheckout utility to automate option (3) above.
The portcheckout port is available in /usr/ports/devel/portcheckout
or the package can be obtained from:
ftp://ftp.freebsd.org/pub/FreeBSD/ports/packages/devel/portcheckout-1.0.tgz
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