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Security update for Linux kernel (k_smp)

Knowledgebase

(Last modified: 19DEC2003)


solutions Security update for Linux kernel (k_smp) SuSE Linux Maintenance Web (526c0dc32a53cad8ada954585a1b9e2e)

Applies to

Product(s): SuSE eMail Server 3.1
SuSE eMail Server III
SuSE Firewall Adminhost VPN
SuSE Linux Admin-CD for Firewall
SuSE Firewall on CD 2 - VPN
SuSE Firewall on CD 2
SuSE Linux Enterprise Server 7 for IA32
SuSE Linux Office Server

Package: k_smp
Release: 20031219
Obsoletes: 68bf5cc5cd55704dbeb66c51f8719985

Indications

This update should be installed on all systems for security reasons.
This article applies to systems with the k_smp kernel package installed, please use the appropriate kernel package if you are using a different kernel:
You can find out which kernel package you are using with
rpm -qf /boot/vmlinuz

Contraindications

None.

Problem description

Paul Starzetz of iSEC reported a vulnerability in the mremap() system call, which allows local attackers to crash the machine and even obtain super user ("root") privileges under certain circumstances.
This update fixes the vulnerability.

Solution

Please install the updates provided at the location noted below.

Installation notes

This update is provided as an RPM package that can easily be installed onto a running system by using these commands:
rpm -Uvh k_smp.rpm mk_initrd lilo
After installation of the kernel RPM reboot the system with
shutdown -r now
to load the new kernel (replace "now" with the appropriate amount of time to allow local users to cleanly log out, for example "+5" for five minutes.)

links to download packages

Download Source Packages

Download the source code of the patches for maintained products.


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