Security update for Linux kernel

Knowledgebase

(Last modified: 14FEB2006)

solutions Security update for Linux kernel
SuSE Linux Maintenance Web (fe38820436a873df269fdd01a2f00ece)

Applies to

Package: k_athlon
k_deflt
k_psmp
k_smp
k_debug
kernel-source
Product(s): SUSE LINUX Retail Solution 8
SuSE Linux School Server for i386
SuSE Linux Standard Server 8
SuSE Linux Enterprise Server 8 for x86
SuSE Linux Openexchange Server 4
Patch: patch-10871
Release: 20060214
Obsoletes: 0efbd4214ff63cd671f6ac22674becbe

Indications

Everyone using the Linux Kernel on x86 architecture should update.

Contraindications

None.

Problem description

This update fixes the following security problems:

CVE-2005-3623: Remote users could set ACLs even on read-only exported NFS filesystems and so circumvent access control.
CVE-2004-1058: A race condition was fixed which could allow local users to read environment variables of another process. This is a reissue of an earlier fix in the 2.6 kernel also present in the 2.4 kernel.
CVE-2005-2553: Fixed an oops when a 64bit binary was traced with a 32bit ltrace. This problem only affects the x86-64 platform.

Also the following bugs were fixed:

Allow building the kernel with newer binutils.
Validate NFS inodes returned by cached lookups to avoid spurious stale NFS file handles.
Retry failing allocations on ext3 filesystems multiple times, in case space is freed on pending ext3 journal releases.

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.*.i586.rpm for the default kernel image, or
rpm -Fhv k_athlon-2.4.*.i586.rpm for the AMD Athlon optimized kernel image, or
rpm -Fhv k_smp-2.4.*.i586.rpm for the SMP kernel image, or
rpm -Fhv k_psmp-2.4.*.i586.rpm for the PSMP kernel image

Please do only install one of these kernels, not all of them.
In case you are using LILO as bootmanager, please make sure that you also execute the command

lilo

after installing the update for the system to remain bootable.
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

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.

Any trademarks referenced in this document are the property of their respective owners. Consult your product manuals for complete trademark information.