[slackware-security]  2.4.21 kernels available (SSA:2003-168-01)

Precompiled Linux 2.4.21 kernels and source packages are now available for
Slackware 9.0 and -current.  These provide an improved version of the
ptrace fix that had been applied to 2.4.20 in Slackware 9.0 (for example,
command line options now appear correctly when root does 'ps ax'), and
fix a potential denial of service problem with netfilter.

Here are the details from the Slackware 9.0 ChangeLog:
+--------------------------+
Tue Jun 17 19:41:55 PDT 2003
New precompiled Linux 2.4.21 kernels and source packages are now available
  for Slackware 9.0.  These fix a few problems with the ptrace patch used
  with the 2.4.20 kernel, and add a few extra drivers (like Silicon Image
  Serial-ATA support).  The new kernel also fixes a number of security
  issues, such as a routing cache problem in 2.4.20 and earlier can allow
  an attacker to cause hash collisions in the prerouting chain that consume
  CPU resources resulting in a denial-of-service (CAN-2003-0244).
patches/packages/kernel-headers-2.4.21-i386-1.tgz:  Upgraded to Linux
  2.4.21 kernel headers.
patches/packages/kernel-ide-2.4.21-i486-1.tgz:  Upgraded to Linux 2.4.21.
patches/packages/kernel-modules-2.4.21-i486-1.tgz:  Upgraded kernel modules
  to Linux 2.4.21.
patches/packages/kernel-modules-2.4.21_xfs-i486-1.tgz:  Upgraded the
  XFS-patched kernel modules package to Linux 2.4.21-xfs.  These are needed
  for the xfs.i kernel.
patches/packages/kernel-source-2.4.21-noarch-1.tgz:  Upgraded to Linux
  2.4.21 source.
patches/kernels/*:  Upgraded to Linux 2.4.21.
(* Security fix *)
+--------------------------+



WHERE TO FIND THE NEW PACKAGES:
+-----------------------------+

Updated packages for Slackware 9.0: 
 
  
 
 
  
 



INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS:
+------------------------+

If you are using the standard Slackware "bare.i" kernel, you may update
your kernel like this:

upgradepkg kernel-ide-2.4.21-i486-1.tgz kernel-modules-2.4.21-i486-1.tgz

Then, reinstall your boot loader.  This may be as simple as running 'lilo'
as root, or you may use 'makebootdisk' to create a new boot floppy.

If you use a different kernel, you'll want to use upgradepkg to update the
appropriate kernel modules package (kernel-modules-2.4.21-i486-1.tgz for
most kernels, but if you use the xfs.i kernel with XFS patches, then you
will need to use the kernel-modules-2.4.21_xfs-i486-1.tgz package instead).
Then, install the kernel from the kernels/ directory.  For example, to
install the adaptec.s kernel:
  cd kernels/adaptec.s
  rm -f /boot/System.map /boot/config /boot/vmlinuz
  cp -a System.map.gz config bzImage /boot
  gzip -d /boot/System.map.gz
  mv /boot/bzImage /boot/vmlinuz
Then, reinstall your boot loader.

You may also wish to update your installed kernel sources:

upgradepkg kernel-headers-2.4.21-i386-1.tgz kernel-source-2.4.21-noarch-1.tgz

If you use XFS or Speakup you'll need to apply additional patches found here:
 
 


+-----+

Slackware Linux Security Team 
slackware
security@slackware.com