GLSA 200708-13: BIND: Weak random number generation

http://security.gentoo.org/

Severity:	normal
Title:	BIND: Weak random number generation
Date:	08/18/2007
Bugs:	#186556
ID:	200708-13

Synopsis

The ISC BIND random number generator uses a weak algorithm, making it easier to guess the next query ID and perform a DNS cache poisoning attack.

Background

ISC BIND is the Internet Systems Consortium implementation of the Domain Name System (DNS) protocol.

Affected packages

Package	Vulnerable	Unaffected	Architecture(s)
net-dns/bind	< 9.4.1_p1	>= 9.4.1_p1	All supported architectures

Description

Amit Klein from Trusteer reported that the random number generator of ISC BIND leads, half the time, to predictable (1 chance to 8) query IDs in the resolver routine or in zone transfer queries (CVE-2007-2926). Additionally, the default configuration file has been strengthen with respect to the allow-recursion{} and the allow-query{} options (CVE-2007-2925).

Impact

A remote attacker can use this weakness by sending queries for a domain he handles to a resolver (directly to a recursive server, or through another process like an email processing) and then observing the resulting IDs of the iterative queries. The attacker will half the time be able to guess the next query ID, then perform cache poisoning by answering with those guessed IDs, while spoofing the UDP source address of the reply. Furthermore, with empty allow-recursion{} and allow-query{} options, the default configuration allowed anybody to make recursive queries and query the cache.

Workaround

There is no known workaround at this time for the random generator weakness. The allow-recursion{} and allow-query{} options should be set to trusted hosts only in /etc/bind/named.conf, thus preventing several security risks.

Resolution

All ISC BIND users should upgrade to the latest version:

    # emerge --sync
    # emerge --ask --oneshot --verbose ">=net-dns/bind-9.4.1_p1"

References

Availability

This GLSA and any updates to it are available for viewing at the Gentoo Security Website: http://security.gentoo.org/glsa/glsa-200708-13.xml

Concerns?

Security is a primary focus of Gentoo Linux and ensuring the confidentiality and security of our users machines is of utmost importance to us. Any security concerns should be addressed to security@gentoo.org or alternatively, you may file a bug at https://bugs.gentoo.org.