Important: kernel security and bug fix update

Related Vulnerabilities: CVE-2012-3412   CVE-2012-3412   CVE-2012-3412  

Synopsis

Important: kernel security and bug fix update

Type/Severity

Security Advisory: Important

Topic

Updated kernel packages that fix one security issue and several bugs are
now available for Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6.

The Red Hat Security Response Team has rated this update as having
important security impact. A Common Vulnerability Scoring System (CVSS)
base score, which gives a detailed severity rating, is available from the
CVE link in the References section.

Description

The kernel packages contain the Linux kernel, the core of any Linux
operating system.

This update fixes the following security issue:

  • A flaw was found in the way socket buffers (skb) requiring TSO (TCP
    segment offloading) were handled by the sfc driver. If the skb did not fit
    within the minimum-size of the transmission queue, the network card could
    repeatedly reset itself. A remote attacker could use this flaw to cause a
    denial of service. (CVE-2012-3412, Important)

Red Hat would like to thank Ben Hutchings of Solarflare (tm) for reporting
this issue.

This update also fixes several bugs. Documentation for these changes will
be available shortly from the Technical Notes document linked to in the
References section.

Users should upgrade to these updated packages, which contain backported
patches to correct this issue, and fix the bugs noted in the Technical
Notes. The system must be rebooted for this update to take effect.

Solution

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

This update is available via the Red Hat Network. Details on how to
use the Red Hat Network to apply this update are available at
https://access.redhat.com/knowledge/articles/11258

To install kernel packages manually, use "rpm -ivh [package]". Do not
use "rpm -Uvh" as that will remove the running kernel binaries from
your system. You may use "rpm -e" to remove old kernels after
determining that the new kernel functions properly on your system.

Affected Products

  • Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server 6 x86_64
  • Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server 6 i386
  • Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server - Extended Update Support 6.3 x86_64
  • Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server - Extended Update Support 6.3 i386
  • Red Hat Enterprise Linux Workstation 6 x86_64
  • Red Hat Enterprise Linux Workstation 6 i386
  • Red Hat Enterprise Linux Desktop 6 x86_64
  • Red Hat Enterprise Linux Desktop 6 i386
  • Red Hat Enterprise Linux for IBM z Systems 6 s390x
  • Red Hat Enterprise Linux for IBM z Systems - Extended Update Support 6.3 s390x
  • Red Hat Enterprise Linux for Power, big endian 6 ppc64
  • Red Hat Enterprise Linux for Power, big endian - Extended Update Support 6.3 ppc64
  • Red Hat Enterprise Linux for Scientific Computing 6 x86_64
  • Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server from RHUI 6 x86_64
  • Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server from RHUI 6 i386
  • Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server - Extended Update Support from RHUI 6.3 x86_64
  • Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server - Extended Update Support from RHUI 6.3 i386

Fixes

  • BZ - 844714 - CVE-2012-3412 kernel: sfc: potential remote denial of service through TCP MSS option

CVEs

References