Security update for Linux kernel (k_smp)

Knowledgebase

(Last modified: 24MAR2003)

solutions Security update for Linux kernel (k_smp) SuSE Linux Maintenance Web (db5882c3b9085db672e697f6db9cb884)

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 Connectivity Server
SuSE Linux Enterprise Server 7 for IA32
SuSE Linux Office Server

Package: k_smp
Release: 20030324
Obsoletes: none

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:

"Security update for Linux kernel (k_deflt)" (http://sdb.suse.de/en/psdb/html/7496cbe42c248de902079b89706c8fd4.html)
"Security update for Linux kernel (k_i386)" (http://sdb.suse.de/en/psdb/html/9f723286e797ada4c630350e22ff8daa.html)
"Security update for Linux kernel (k_psmp)" (http://sdb.suse.de/en/psdb/html/3fd4d382c8d722d2bf24972a6508f795.html)

You can find out which kernel package you are using with
rpm -qf /boot/vmlinuz

Contraindications

None.

Description

This update fixes a security vulnerability in the Linux kernel
(CAN-2003-0127). The vulnerability allows a local unprivileged attacker to
gain root privileges by using ptrace/strace in
combination with automatic kernel module loading on request, also known
as "kmod".
As a temporary workaround, it is possible to disable the automatic loading of kernel modules by running the following command as user "root":
echo /no/such/file >/proc/sys/kernel/modprobe

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_smp.rpm
Please make sure that you execute the commands
mk_initrd lilo
as user "root" after installing this update for the system to be bootable.
Furthermore, if you are upgrading from kernel 2.4.7 please make sure to install the updated kernel utils as described in the maintenance web articles

"Recommended update for kernel utils and modules" (http://sdb.suse.de/en/psdb/html/fee12d4d654d25119d25e36e8fe8b36a.html)
"Recommended update for REISERFS " (http://sdb.suse.de/en/psdb/html/8c0c2a3fd413890bb05d95d3f01b459e.html)

as well.
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 7 for IA32 (i386)

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.

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