[comp.os.vms] Yes, there is a NEW security patch

A.Eric@GSB-HOW.STANFORD.EDU (Eric M. Berg) (04/06/88)

I just logged into DSIN (the "Digital Software Information Network", or words
to that effect), and there is a new FLASH message under the VMS product
category entitled "Important Security Announcement - April 1988".

The cover letter for the MANDATORY UPDATE being distrbuted states that
>> DIGITAL has recently found and developed solutions to potential
>> security exposures in the following versions of MicroVMS and VMS:
>> [it then lists *all* current versions of VMS and MicroVMS, from
>> 4.3 to 4.7]

The cover letter continues:
>> A security update is enclosed in this package.  This update is vital
>> to maintaining your system security.  If you choose not to install
>> this security update, you may be leaving your VMS systems at risk of
>> unauthorized use.

This is definitely a *new* security problem/patch, not the one which was
distributed last Spring/Summer.  That was a patch for versions 4.4 and
4.5, which was made unncessary by version 4.6; this applies to essentially
ALL of the 4.x versions, including 4.6 and 4.7.  It also must be REinstalled
each time a new version of VMS is installed (e.g. when upgrading from 4.6
to 4.7).

Please don't contact me for more information, since I don't have any.
(I haven't received my tape yet.)  "Contact your local Digital
representative."

						Eric M. Berg
						Computer Facility
						Graduate School of Business
						Stanford University
-------