Security update for sendmail (package sendmail-devel)

Knowledgebase

(Last modified: 03MAR2003)

solutions Security update for sendmail (package sendmail-devel) SuSE Linux Maintenance Web (cea49936f292ba8297049a5eb8da1eee)

Applies to

Product(s): SuSE Linux Enterprise Server 8 for x86
SuSE Linux Enterprise Server 8 for IPF
SuSE Linux Enterprise Server 8 for IBM iSeries and IBM pSeries
SuSE Linux Enterprise Server 8 for IBM S/390 and IBM zSeries
SuSE Linux Enterprise Server 8 for IBM zSeries
SuSE Linux Openexchange Server 4

Package: sendmail-devel
Release: 20030303
Obsoletes: none

Indications

The sendmail-devel package should be updated on all systems that have it installed.

Contraindications

None.

Problem description

A remotely exploitable heap overflow has been discovered in all versions of sendmail that are currently supported in SuSE products (sendmail-8.9, 8.10, 8.11 and 8.12). This heap overflow is known to be exploitable by a remote attacker to gain control of a vulnerable sendmail server process.
The vulnerability itself is triggered by an email message sent through the sendmail MTA subsystem. In that respect, it is different from commonly known bugs that occur in the context of an open TCP connection. By consequence, the vulnerability also exists if email messages get forwarded over a relay that itself does not run a vulnerable MTA. This specific detail causes this vulnerability to be considered an error of major severity.
The sendmail MTA dÆmon is contained in the package 'sendmail'. There exists an own patch for the sendmail package, described in the SuSE Maintenance Web article "Security update for sendmail (package sendmail)" (http://sdb.suse.de/en/psdb/html/de453c8319b6505d448075350f15aef5.html).

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 -Fvh sendmail-devel.rpm
The sendmail-devel package does not contain the sendmail dÆmon. It only contains the static libraries and header files for applications that link against sendmail library functions.
After performing this update it is strongly recommended that administrators rebuild their binaries that make use of sendmail's static libraries.

links to download packages

Download Source Packages

Download the source code of the patches for maintained products.

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