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Security Bugfix for libz

Knowledgebase

(Last modified: 11MAR2002)


solutions Security Bugfix for libz SuSE Linux Maintenance Web (a65d5b3d86cfc33af5b71ce3e5167c33)

Applies to

Product(s): SuSE Linux Database Server
SuSE Linux Admin-CD for Firewall
SuSE eMail Server III
SuSE Linux Enterprise Server 7 for PowerPC

SuSE Linux Enterprise Server 7 for IA32
SuSE Linux Enterprise Server 7 for IA64
SuSE Linux Enterprise Server 7 for S/390 and zSeries
SuSE Linux Enterprise Server for S/390
SuSE Firewall Adminhost VPN
SuSE Linux Connectivity Server

Package: libz
Release: 20020311
Obsoletes: none

Indications

Everybody should install this package.

Contraindications

None.

Problem description

The zlib compression shared library is being used by many applications to provide data compression/decompression routines. An error in a decompression routine can corrupt the internal data structures of malloc by a double call to the free() function. If the data processed by the compression library is provided from untrusted sources, it may be possible for an attacker to spoil the process using the zlib routines. The attack scenario includes a denial of service attack and memory/data disclosure, but it may also be possible to insert arbitrary code into the running program and to execute this code. This patch fixes the known problems in the zlib. Since the compression library is being used in many hundred packages, it should be made sure that all of these packages really use the fixed version by restarting all processes. In doubt, please reboot your system.

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 zlib.rpm
It is necessary to restart all processes using the compression library by either going to single user mode and back to your default runlevel, or to reboot your system.

links to download packages

Download Source Packages

Download the source code of the patches for maintained products.


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