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FreeBSD "arc4random()" Insufficient Entropy Sources Security Issue

Report ID: SA32871
Source: Secunia
Date of Discovery: 25.11.2008
Criticality: Low
Affects:
FreeBSD 6.x

Compromise From: From remote
Compromise Type: Brute force

Summary

A security issue, which can be exploited by malicious people to conduct brute force attacks.

Detailed Description

A security issue, which can be exploited by malicious people to conduct brute force attacks.

The security issue is caused due to the "arc4random()" function using insufficiently random entropy sources within the first 5 minutes after starting the boot process or until collecting enough random data. This weakens applications and processes relying on the security of "arc4random()" (e.g. when creating IVs for WEP, creating IP packet identifiers, kernel RPC transaction identifiers, and within GEOM ELI and GEOM shsec providers).

Solution

Update FreeBSD or apply patches.

Note: GEOM shsec providers created within the vulnerable time period have to be recreated after patching the system.

2008-11-24 17:39:39 UTC (RELENG_7, 7.1-PRERELEASE)
2008-11-24 17:39:39 UTC (RELENG_7_0, 7.0-RELEASE-p6)
2008-11-24 17:39:39 UTC (RELENG_6, 6.4-STABLE)
2008-11-24 17:39:39 UTC (RELENG_6_4, 6.4-RELEASE)
2008-11-24 17:39:39 UTC (RELENG_6_3, 6.3-RELEASE-p6)

FreeBSD 6.x:
http://security.FreeBSD.org/patches/SA-08:11/arc4random6x.patch

FreeBSD 7.x:
fetch http://security.FreeBSD.org/patches/SA-08:11/arc4random.patch

CVE Reference

CVE-2008-5162