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Red Hat Enterprise Linux 5: RHSA-2012:0690-01 Important Kernel Update

red hat
Calendar Grey May 29, 2012
Scroller Redhat
A significant update for the Linux kernel in CentOS resolves a severe vulnerability that may result in unexpected reboots and unauthorized access privileges.
Updated kernel packages that fix one security issue and various bugs are now available for Red Hat Enterprise Linux 5

Solution

Before applying this update, make sure all previously-released errata relevant to your system have been applied.

This update is available via the Red Hat Network. Details on how to use the Red Hat Network to apply this update are available at https://access.redhat.com/articles/11258

To install kernel packages manually, use "rpm -ivh [package]". Do not use "rpm -Uvh" as that will remove the running kernel binaries from your system. You may use "rpm -e" to remove old kernels after determining that the new kernel functions properly on your system.

Summary

The kernel packages contain the Linux kernel, the core of any Linux operating system.
This update fixes the following security issue:
* It was found that the data_len parameter of the sock_alloc_send_pskb() function in the Linux kernel's networking implementation was not validated before use. A local user with access to a TUN/TAP virtual interface could use this flaw to crash the system or, potentially, escalate their privileges. Note that unprivileged users cannot access TUN/TAP devices until the root user grants them access. (CVE-2012-2136, Important)
This update also fixes various bugs. Documentation for these changes will be available shortly from the Technical Notes document linked to in the References section.
Users should upgrade to these updated packages, which contain backported patches to correct this issue, and fix the bugs noted in the Technical Notes. The system must be rebooted for this update to take effect.

Topics%20covered

Topics Covered

security advisory Red Hat privilege escalation bug fix important kernel system crash

References

https://access.redhat.com/security/cve/CVE-2012-2136 https://access.redhat.com/security/updates/classification#important https://access.redhat.com/search/

Package List

Red Hat Enterprise Linux Desktop (v. 5 client):
Source:
i386: kernel-2.6.18-308.8.1.el5.i686.rpm kernel-PAE-2.6.18-308.8.1.el5.i686.rpm kernel-PAE-debuginfo-2.6.18-308.8.1.el5.i686.rpm kernel-PAE-devel-2.6.18-308.8.1.el5.i686.rpm kernel-debug-2.6.18-308.8.1.el5.i686.rpm kernel-debug-debuginfo-2.6.18-308.8.1.el5.i686.rpm kernel-debug-devel-2.6.18-308.8.1.el5.i686.rpm kernel-debuginfo-2.6.18-308.8.1.el5.i686.rpm kernel-debuginfo-common-2.6.18-308.8.1.el5.i686.rpm kernel-devel-2.6.18-308.8.1.el5.i686.rpm kernel-headers-2.6.18-308.8.1.el5.i386.rpm kernel-xen-2.6.18-308.8.1.el5.i686.rpm kernel-xen-debuginfo-2.6.18-308.8.1.el5.i686.rpm kernel-xen-devel-2.6.18-308.8.1.el5.i686.rpm
noarch: kernel-doc-2.6.18-308.8.1.el5.noarch.rpm
x86_64: kernel-2.6.18-308.8.1.el5.x86_64.rpm kernel-debug-2.6.18-308.8.1.el5.x86_64.rpm kernel-debug-debuginfo-2.6.18-308.8.1.el5.x86_64.rpm kernel-debug-devel-2.6.18-308.8.1.el5.x86_64.rpm kernel-debuginfo-2.6.18-308.8.1.el5.x86_64.rpm kernel-debuginfo-common-2.6.18-308.8.1.el5.x86_64.rpm kernel-devel-2.6.18-308.8.1.el5.x86_64.rpm kernel-headers-2.6.18-308.8.1.el5.x86_64.rpm kernel-xen-2.6.18-308.8.1.el5.x86_64.rpm kernel-xen-debuginfo-2.6.18-308.8.1.el5.x86_64.rpm kernel-xen-devel-2.6.18-308.8.1.el5.x86_64.rpm
Red Hat Enterprise Linux (v. 5 server):


Read the Full Advisory


Severity
important
Lowest
Low
Medium
High
Critical

Advisory ID: RHSA-2012:0690-01
Product: Red Hat Enterprise Linux
Advisory URL: https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2012:0690.html
Issue date: 2012-05-29

Topic

Updated kernel packages that fix one security issue and various bugs arenow available for Red Hat Enterprise Linux 5.The Red Hat Security Response Team has rated this update as havingimportant security impact. A Common Vulnerability Scoring System (CVSS)base score, which gives a detailed severity rating, is available from theCVE link in the References section.

Topics%20covered

Topics Covered

security advisory Red Hat privilege escalation bug fix important kernel system crash

Relevant Releases Architectures

Red Hat Enterprise Linux (v. 5 server) - i386, ia64, noarch, ppc, s390x, x86_64

Red Hat Enterprise Linux Desktop (v. 5 client) - i386, noarch, x86_64

Bugs Fixed

816289 - CVE-2012-2136 kernel: net: insufficient data_len validation in sock_alloc_send_pskb()

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