Security update for Linux kernel

Knowledgebase

(Last modified: 01JUL2004)

solutions Security update for Linux kernel SuSE Linux Maintenance Web (a0b7af8264bb40feb7376a2dfd300d10)

Applies to

Product(s): SuSE Linux Enterprise Server 8 for IBM zSeries

Package: k_deflt
kernel-source
Release: 20040701
Obsoletes: none

Indications

Everyone using the Linux Kernel should update.

Contraindications

None.

Problem description

This kernel update fixes several security critical bugs that range from local denial-of-service conditions to possible privilege escalation.

chown: users can change the group affiliation of arbitrary files to the group they belong to
pss, mpu401 sound driver: read/write to complete memory
airo driver: read/write to complete memory
ALSA: copy_from_user/copy_to_user confused
acpi_asus: read from random memory
decnet: write to memory without checking
e1000 driver: read complete memory

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 this command:


rpm -Uvh k_deflt.rpm

zipl

Please make sure to run "zipl" to write the updated IPL code to the DASD or MDISK as the system won't boot at next IPL otherwise.
Now 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.)
If you need the kernel sources you can install them by using the command:


rpm -Uvh kernel-source.rpm

links to download packages

SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 8 for IBM zSeries (s390x)

Download Source Packages

Download the source code of the patches for maintained products.

Disclaimer

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