Security update for Linux kernel

Knowledgebase

(Last modified: 07JAN2004)

solutions Security update for Linux kernel SuSE Linux Maintenance Web (f9606b00b71757ba2105fe6ea7acc4f2)

Applies to

Product(s): SuSE Linux Enterprise Server 8 for IPF

Package: k_deflt
k_itanium2
k_itanium2-smp
k_smp
kernel-source
Release: 20040107
Obsoletes: 1586e7541957bd8a887842c6d0fd1019

Indications

Apply this update if you allow shell access to non-root accounts.

Problem description

Paul Starzetz of iSEC reported a vulnerability in the mremap system call, which allows local attackers to crash the machine, and even to obtain super user privileges under some circumstances. This update fixes the vulnerability.

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.
First, find out which kernel package to use, for example with
rpm -qf /boot/vmlinuz
Download the kernel image fitting your setup and install it with either:

rpm -Fvh k_deflt-2.4.21-128.ia64.rpm for the default kernel image, or
rpm -Fhv k_smp-2.4.21-128.ia64.rpm for the SMP kernel image, or
rpm -Fhv k_itanium2-2.4.21-128.ia64.rpm for the Itanium2 kernel image, or
rpm -Fhv k_itanium2-smp-2.4.21-128.ia64.rpm for the Itanium2 SMP kernel image

(N.B.: only install one of these kernels, not all of them.)
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 8 for IPF (ia64)

Download Source Packages

Download the source code of the patches for maintained products.

Disclaimer

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