For Public Release 2003 December 10 16:00 UTC (GMT)
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Contents

     Summary 
     Affected Products 
     Details 
     Impact 
     Software Versions and Fixes 
     Obtaining Fixed Software 
     Workarounds 
     Exploitation and Public Announcements 
     Status of This Notice: FINAL 
     Distribution 
     Revision History 
     Cisco Security Procedures 
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Summary

   By entering an overly long password, it may be possible to execute
   arbitrary code on a vulnerable device. This vulnerability affects all
   devices and hardware modules that are running ACNS software releases
   prior to 4.2.11 and 5.0.5. The workaround is to disable the CE GUI
   server.

   This advisory will be available at
   http://www.cisco.com/warp/public/707/cisco-sa-20031210-ACNS-auth.shtml.

Affected Products

   All Cisco products running ACNS software versions prior to 4.2.11 or
   5.0.5 are affected. The hardware models that supports ACNS are:
     * Content Routers 4400 series
     * Content Distribution Manager 4600 series
     * Content Engine 500 and 7300 series
     * Content Engine Module for Cisco Routers 2600, 3600 and 3700 series

   ACNS version 5.1 is not affected.

Details

   By supplying an overly long password, it is possible to trigger a buffer
   overflow in the authentication module. This may enable an attacker to
   execute arbitrary code on the affected device.

   This vulnerability is assigned Cisco bug IDs CSCeb25596 ( registered
   customers only) and CSCeb27087 ( registered customers only) .

Impact

   The impact of the exploitation of this vulnerability can range from a
   Denial-of-Service to complete control of the device.

Software Versions and Fixes

   This vulnerability is fixed in 4.2.11 and 5.0.5 releases of ACNS.

Obtaining Fixed Software

   Cisco is offering free software upgrades to remedy this vulnerability
   for all affected customers. Customers may only install and expect
   support for the feature sets they have purchased.

   Customers with contracts should obtain upgraded software through their
   regular update channels. For most customers, this means that upgrades
   should be obtained through the Software Center on Cisco's worldwide
   website at http://www.cisco.com.

   Customers whose Cisco products are provided or maintained through prior
   or existing agreement with third-party support organizations such as
   Cisco Partners, authorized resellers, or service providers should
   contact that support organization for assistance with the upgrade, which
   should be free of charge.

   Customers who purchase direct from Cisco but who do not hold a Cisco
   service contract and customers who purchase through third-party vendors
   but are unsuccessful at obtaining fixed software through their point of
   sale should get their upgrades by contacting the Cisco Technical
   Assistance Center (TAC). TAC contacts are as follows.
     * +1 800 553 2447 (toll free from within North America)
     * +1 408 526 7209 (toll call from anywhere in the world)
     * e-mail: tac@cisco.com

   See http://www.cisco.com/warp/public/687/Directory/DirTAC.shtml for
   additional TAC contact information, including special localized
   telephone numbers and instructions and e-mail addresses for use in
   various languages.

   Please have your product serial number available and give the URL of
   this notice as evidence of your entitlement to a free upgrade. Free
   upgrades for non-contract customers must be requested through the TAC.

   Please do not contact either "psirt@cisco.com" or
   "security-alert@cisco.com" for software upgrades.

Workarounds

   The workaround is to disable the CE GUI server using the following
   command:

   no gui-server enable

Exploitation and Public Announcements

   The Cisco PSIRT is not aware of any public announcements or malicious
   use of the vulnerability described in this advisory. This vulnerability
   was discovered during internal testing.

Status of This Notice: FINAL

   This is a final advisory. Although Cisco cannot guarantee the accuracy
   of all statements in this advisory, all of the facts have been checked
   to the best of our ability. Cisco does not anticipate issuing updated
   versions of this advisory unless there is some material change in the
   facts. Should there be a significant change in the facts, Cisco will
   update this advisory.

   A stand-alone copy or paraphrase of the text of this security advisory
   that omits the distribution URL in the following section is an
   uncontrolled copy, and may lack important information or contain factual
   errors.

Distribution

   This notice will be posted on Cisco's worldwide website at
   http://www.cisco.com/warp/public/707/cisco-sa-20031210-ACNS-auth.shtml.
   In addition to worldwide web posting, a text version of this notice is
   clear-signed with the Cisco PSIRT PGP key and is posted to the following
   e-mail and Usenet news recipients:
     * cust-security-announce@cisco.com
     * bugtraq@securityfocus.com
     * first-teams@first.org (includes CERT/CC)
     * cisco@spot.colorado.edu
     * comp.dcom.sys.cisco
     * firewalls@lists.gnac.com
     * Various internal Cisco mailing lists

   Future updates of this advisory, if any, will be placed on Cisco's
   worldwide website, but may or may not be actively announced on mailing
   lists or newsgroups. Users concerned about this problem are encouraged
   to check the above URL for any updates.

Revision History

   Revision 1.0

   2003-Dec-10

   Initial public release.

Cisco Security Procedures

   Complete information on reporting security vulnerabilities in Cisco
   products, obtaining assistance with security incidents, and registering
   to receive security information from Cisco, is available on Cisco's
   worldwide website at
   http://www.cisco.com/warp/public/707/sec_incident_response.shtml. This
   includes instructions for press inquiries regarding Cisco security
   notices. All Cisco security advisories are available at
   http://www.cisco.com/go/psirt.
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   Updated: Dec 10, 2003 Document ID: 47184
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