kernel security update

Synopsis

kernel security update

Type/Severity

Security Advisory: Important

Topic

Updated kernel packages that fix a number of security issues as well as
other bugs are now available for Red Hat Enterprise Linux 2.1 (32 bit
architectures)

This update has been rated as having important security impact by the
Red Hat Security Response Team.

Description

The Linux kernel handles the basic functions of the operating system.

This is a kernel maintenance update to Red Hat Enterprise Linux 2.1.

The following security issues were corrected:

A flaw between execve() syscall handling and core dumping of ELF-format
executables allowed local unprivileged users to cause a denial of
service (system crash) or possibly gain privileges. The Common
Vulnerabilities and Exposures project has assigned the name CAN-2005-1263
to this issue.

A flaw when freeing a pointer in load_elf_library was discovered. A local
user could potentially use this flaw to cause a denial of service (crash).
(CAN-2005-0749)

The Direct Rendering Manager (DRM) driver did not properly check the DMA
lock, which could allow remote attackers or local users to cause a denial
of service (X Server crash) or possibly modify the video output.
(CAN-2004-1056)

A flaw in the moxa serial driver could allow a local user to perform
privileged operations such as replacing the firmware. (CAN-2005-0504)

The following bug fixes were also made:

• Fix a race condition that can cause a panic in __get_lease()
  
• Fix a race condition that can cause a panic when reading /proc/mdstat
  
• Fix incorrect ide accounting
  
• Prevent non-root users from reloading moxa driver firmware
  
• Fix a null-pointer-dereference bug in rpciod
  
• Fix legacy-usb handoff for certain IBM platforms
  
• Fix a bug that caused busy inodes after unmount
  
• Provide an additional fix for a memory leak in scsi_scan_single.
  
• Fix a potential kswapd/dquot deadlock.
  
• Fix a potential local DoS in shmemfs.
  
• Fix a random poolsize vulnerability.
  

Red Hat Enterprise Linux 2.1 users are advised to upgrade their kernels to
the packages associated with their machine configurations as listed in this
erratum.

Solution

Before applying this update, make sure all previously released errata
relevant to your system have been applied.

This update is available via Red Hat Network. To use Red Hat Network,
launch the Red Hat Update Agent with the following command:

up2date

This will start an interactive process that will result in the appropriate
RPMs being upgraded on your system.

Affected Products

• Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server 2 i386
• Red Hat Enterprise Linux Workstation 2 i386

Fixes

• BZ - 127105 - RHEL 2.1: x445 Legacy USB support workaround needed
• BZ - 138517 - Memory Leak in AS 2.1 and 3.0 kernels
• BZ - 139775 - Filesystem quota GFP_KERNEL deadlock kswapd on dqio_sem.
• BZ - 144389 - CAN-2004-1056 insufficient locking checks in DRM code
• BZ - 144534 - random poolsize sysctl handler integer overflow
• BZ - 146103 - CAN-2005-0504 moxa CAP_SYS_RAWIO missing
• BZ - 152412 - CAN-2005-0749 load_elf_library possible DoS
• BZ - 156636 - [IT 54907] System oopsing in __get_lease()
• BZ - 157452 - CAN-2005-1263 Linux kernel ELF core dump privilege elevation

CVEs

• CVE-2005-1263
• CVE-2005-0749
• CVE-2005-0504
• CVE-2004-1056

References

(none)