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From: smith%eri.DECnet@MGHCCC.HARVARD.EDU ("ERI::SMITH")
Newsgroups: comp.os.vms
Subject: Security problem in DQS
Message-ID: <8712050259.AA29107@ucbvax.Berkeley.EDU>
Date: Fri, 4-Dec-87 15:40:00 EST
Article-I.D.: ucbvax.8712050259.AA29107
Posted: Fri Dec  4 15:40:00 1987
Date-Received: Thu, 10-Dec-87 06:00:04 EST
Sender: usenet@ucbvax.BERKELEY.EDU
Reply-To: "ERI::SMITH" 
Organization: The ARPA Internet
Lines: 38

In the process of installing DQS (the distributed queue service), I was
mildly surprised to discover what looks to me like a fairly gross security
problem with its installation procedure.  I'm not a security maven.  I
don't think there's any harm in discussing it because if I've noticed it,
it's obvious.  And if I'm wrong and it's not a problem, I'd like someone
to explain to me why it isn't.

During VMSINSTAL, on a server node, DQS creates an account for its own
use.  More specifically, the account is for use by a network object that
is part of DQS.  It also creates a startup .COM file, to be invoked in
your SYSTARTUP and executed whenever the system is booted.

The file contains the NCP commands to DEFINE and SET the network object,
and it contains the password for the account which the network object
uses.

In other words, it writes a permanent file which contains an account
password in it.  Worse yet, it's a file that a) is REALLY permanent,
since it's going to be invoked by SYSTARTUP, b) is a file that has
a well-defined name, resides in a well-defined place, and refers to
an account that has a well-defined name and UIC.

They encourage you to let the installation process generate a random
password for you rather than choosing one yourself.  Hey, it's better
than "MANAGER".  And the account is only authorized for network
access.  I mean, _I_ don't know enough to exploit the hole it produces.

But I thought writing account passwords into files was a no-no.
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Daniel P. B. Smith         ARPA: smith%eri.decnet@mghccc.harvard.edu
Eye Research Institute     CompuServe: 74706,661
20 Staniford Street        Telephone (voice): 617 742-3140
Boston, MA 02114
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"We are in great haste to construct a magnetic telegraph from Maine to
Texas; but Maine and Texas, it may be, have nothing important to
communicate."--Thoreau
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