date: 31.08.2004

author: l0om - l0om [at] excluded dot org - www.excluded.org

discovered in: SuSE Linux Openexchange Server 4

problem: cleartext rootpw in swap caused by fergotten "mlock" or wiping out memory

hi,

i have noticed my root password flying around on my swap in cleartext.

an attacker who has successfully rooted a box can get the cleartext password from the swap device.

i dont know if this is caused by some SuSE mistake at the web login- maybe its a fault in openldap.

i dont know exactly where this is caused.

root:~ # strings swap -5 | grep GroupwareDBport -A 2| grep -A 2 loginDestination

loginDestination

MYROOTCLEARTEXT_PASSWORD

--

--

loginDestination

MYROOTCLEARTEXT_PASSWORD

--

--

loginDestination

MYROOTCLEARTEXT_PASSWORD

[...]

i also had success in getting my cleartext password with

root:~ # strings swap -5 | grep /etc/postfix/main.cf -A 2

/etc/postfix/main.cf

MYROOTCLEARTEXT_PASSWORD

erfolgreich

--

/etc/postfix/main.cf

MYROOTCLEARTEXT_PASSWORD

SIEVEpor

[...]

however- such things can be prevented with wiping out the memory where the

password was stored or with using mlock.

greets @ murfie, johnny, klouw, (other google masters ;])

maximilian, and the guys from excluded.org

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