Security update for Linux kernel (kernel-source)

Knowledgebase

(Last modified: 24MAR2003)

solutions Security update for Linux kernel (kernel-source) SuSE Linux Maintenance Web (eabe588458a2107db154276256141e46)

Applies to

Product(s): SuSE Linux Connectivity Server
SuSE Linux Enterprise Server 7 for IA32
SuSE Linux Office Server

Package: kernel-source
Release: 20030324
Obsoletes: none

Indications

This patch updates your kernel-source package and is only necessary if you compile your own kernel.

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

The kernel-source RPM package only contains the source code for the SuSE version of the kernel. As such, it does not actively fix any of the mentioned problems directly. Moreover, it provides the administrator with a new source code tree if the administrator should chose to build a kernel with an own configuration. If you are running a self-compiled kernel, you should recompile your kernel and install the results. If you are running pre-built kernels, you should refer to the updates of the packages k_deflt, k_smp, k_psmp or k_i386 depending on what package is installed on your system.

Installation notes

This update is provided as an RPM package that can easily be installed onto a running system by using these commands:
rpm -Uvh kernel-source.rpm

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

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