Security update for linux Kernel (IPF)

Knowledgebase

(Last modified: 07JUN2004)

solutions Security update for linux Kernel (IPF) SuSE Linux Maintenance Web (fbc452895c8686539b54ae55bbebf6be)

Applies to

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

Package: k_deflt
k_itanium2-smp
k_itanium2
k_smp
kernel-source
Release: 20040607
Obsoletes: none

Indications

Everyone using the Linux Kernel should update.

Contraindications

None.

Problem description

The IPF kernels have a floating point leak. This is because the context switch code checks just the psr.mfh bit and doesn't look at who the FPH owner is. This allows a malicious program to set the MFH bit and look at the registers of another possibly sensitive process.

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 install by using the following command:
rpm -qf /boot/vmlinuz
Download the kernel image fitting your setup and install it with either:

rpm -Fvh k_deflt-*.rpm for the default kernel image, or
rpm -Fvh k_itanium2-smp-*.rpm for the Itanium2 SMP kernel image, or
rpm -Fhv k_itanium2.rpm-*.rpm for the Itanium2 kernel image, or
rpm -Fhv k_smp-*.rpm for the 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.)
If you are interested in installing the kernel sources, please download the package kernel-source and install it with:
rpm -Uhv kernel-source-*.rpm

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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