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Date:      Tue, 2 Jul 2024 18:03:28 -0700
From:      Dan Mahoney <freebsd@gushi.org>
To:        Brett Glass <brett@lariat.net>
Cc:        questions@freebsd.org
Subject:   Re: Close OpenSSH hole on 13.1-RELEASE server without shutting down?
Message-ID:  <BEF296B0-49CF-4A3C-A92D-B115AFC1C127@gushi.org>
In-Reply-To: <202407030050.SAA06884@mail.lariat.net>
References:  <202407030050.SAA06884@mail.lariat.net>

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> On Jul 2, 2024, at 17:50, Brett Glass <brett@lariat.net> wrote:
>=20
> Hello!
>=20
> We have a server running FreeBSD 13.1-RELEASE (curent patch level: p5) =
in a remote location. It's running well, and uses a custom statically =
linked kernel with no loadable modules to conserve memory and allow =
better security.
>=20
> We just found out about the latest OpenSSH bug, and want to patch. =
Unfortunately, the freebsd-update utility isn't updating it, because it =
is JUST ONE POINT VERSION beyond the earliest one for which the Security =
Team has provided updates. And we can't shut the server down to do a =
major upgrade right now. (Upgrades to systems using custom kernels are =
especially dicey and frequently result in lockouts, which in this case =
would not only interrupt important activities but require a 50 mile =
drive.)
>=20
> Any ideas as to how to JUST upgrade OpenSSH? I've looked at installing =
the openssh-portable binary package, but when I start the process by =
doing a "pkg update" I get a warning message indicating OS mismatches =
for lots of packages. The error messages all include the line
>=20
> To ignore this error set IGNORE_OSVERSION=3Dyes
>=20
> (which I assume means to start sh, set that environment variable in =
the shell, and then run the command). Is this safe?

There is a workaround posted in the security advisory.  You can also =
firewall off ssh connections from anywhere but trusted sources.  Note =
that if you're still on 13.1 there are other security advisories to be =
aware of beyond the ssh one.  (Albeit none quite so egregious).

-Dan




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