Security update for Linux kernel

Knowledgebase

(Last modified: 29JUL2005)

solutions Security update for Linux kernel SuSE Linux Maintenance Web (763807d02c867cd119d326d0b53c0d9b)

Applies to

Package: kernel-default
kernel-iseries64
kernel-pmac64
kernel-pseries64
kernel-smp
kernel-source
kernel-syms
Product(s): SUSE CORE 9 for IBM POWER
Patch: patch-10383
Release: 20050729
Obsoletes: 12980af33caf9b5a099023f3a35d0673
68c69c48914f4449e711808448aefd2b

Indications

Everyone using the Linux Kernel on PPC architecture should update.

Contraindications

None.

Problem description

This update fixes the following security issues:
x86_64:

by causing an overflow in the 32bit execve function users could crash the kernel or even execute code (#90499, CAN-2005-1768).

ia64:

by causing an overflow in the 32bit execve function users could crash the kernel or even execute code (#90499, CAN-2005-1768).

This update also fixes the following non-security issues:

deadlock in reiserfs
NFS problems with EMC servers (#96193)
hang on deleting vlan interfaces (#83493)
busy inodes after umount of autofs4 (#91112)
JBD race condition during umount (#95665)
output of /proc/scsi/scsi (#80228)
ignore timer overrides on SMP Nvidia boards (#94194)

i386:

crash on dual core, single processor Opterons (#96485)
initialization of the ACPI Processor P-States Driver (#95059)

x86_64:

initialization of the ACPI Processor P-States Driver (#95059)
kernel parameter noexec=on did't work (#96528)

s390:

include IBM codedrop 2005-07-20

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.
First, find out which kernel package to use, for example with


rpm -qf /boot/vmlinuz

Download the kernel image fitting your setup and install it with either:

rpm -Fvh kernel-syms*.rpm kernel-default*.rpm for the default kernel image, or
rpm -Fvh kernel-syms*.rpm kernel-iseries64*.rpm for the 64 bit iSeries kernel image, or
rpm -Fvh kernel-syms*.rpm kernel-pseries64*.rpm for the 64 bit pSeries kernel image, or
rpm -Fvh kernel-syms*.rpm kernel-smp*.rpm for the SMP kernel image, or
rpm -Fvh kernel-syms*.rpm kernel-pmac64*.rpm for the 64 bit PPC kernel image

Please do only install one of these kernels, not all of them.
After performing the RPM package update of your kernel package, you must execute the following commands as root to make sure that your system will start up again:


mk_initrd
lilo

Finally, 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

SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 9 for IBM POWER (ppc)

Download Source Packages

Download the source code of the patches for maintained products.

Disclaimer

The Origin of this information may be internal or external to Novell. Novell makes all reasonable efforts to verify this information. However, the information provided in this document is for your information only. Novell makes no explicit or implied claims to the validity of this information.

Any trademarks referenced in this document are the property of their respective owners. Consult your product manuals for complete trademark information.