Patch-ID# 109410-03
Keywords: security xntpd syscall PLL ntpdate -w packet xntpd
Synopsis: SunOS 5.7_x86: xntpd and ntpdate Patch
Date: Oct/15/2001

Solaris Release: 7_x86

SunOS Release: 5.7_x86

Unbundled Product: 

Unbundled Release: 

Xref: This patch available for SPARC as patch 109409

Topic: SunOS 5.7_x86: xntpd and ntpdate Patch

Relevant Architectures: i386

BugId's fixed with this patch: 4201436 4247629 4279094 4379876 4434235

Changes incorporated in this version: 4379876 4434235

Patches accumulated and obsoleted by this patch: 107331-02

Patches which conflict with this patch: 

Patches required with this patch: 

Obsoleted by: 

Files included with this patch: 

/usr/lib/inet/xntpd
/usr/sbin/ntpdate

Problem Description:

4379876 The SLEWALWAYS option to xntpd needs to be user configurable.
4434235 *xntpd* contains a buffer overflow that can lead to root compromise
 
(from 109410-02)
 
4279094 Time daemon (xntpd) step the system clock in an abrupt adjustment
 
(from 109410-01)
 
4247629 xntpd does not make use of in-kernel PLL
 
(from 107331-02)
 
4279094 Time daemon (xntpd) step the system clock in an abrupt adjustment
 
(from 107331-01)
 
4201436 ntpdate -w does not work correctly

Patch Installation Instructions:
--------------------------------
 
For Solaris 2.0-2.6 releases, refer to the Install.info file and/or
the README within the patch for instructions on using the generic
'installpatch' and 'backoutpatch' scripts provided with each patch.
 
For Solaris 7-8 releases, refer to the man pages for instructions
on using 'patchadd' and 'patchrm' scripts provided with Solaris.
Any other special or non-generic installation instructions should be
described below as special instructions.  The following example
installs a patch to a standalone machine:
 
       example# patchadd /var/spool/patch/104945-02
 
The following example removes a patch from a standalone system:
 
       example# patchrm 104945-02
 
For additional examples please see the appropriate man pages.

Special Install Instructions:
----------------------------- 
 
This patch adds a new configuration option to the /etc/inet/ntp.conf
file.  The option is:
 
        slewalways yes | no
 
If you turn this option on xntpd will try to always slew the time and
will never make large steps backwards or forwards.
 
It is advised that if you do turn on slewalways you also select:
 
        disable pll
 
Without this option xntpd will not be able to correct time differences
greater than 128ms.

README -- Last modified date:  Monday, October 15, 2001

