Stay Secure with the Latest Linux Advisories

security advisorycriticalsecurity fix

Slackware 12.1: 2008-315-01 Critical: GnuTLS API and Security Update

New gnutls packages are available for Slackware 12.0, 12.1, and -current to fix a security issue. NOTE: The package for 12.0 has a different shared library soname, and the packages for 12.1 and -current have an API/ABI change. Only the Pidgin package . -----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE----- Hash: SHA1 [slackware-security] gnutls (SSA:2008-315-01) New gnutls packages are available for Slackware 12.0, 12.1, and -current to fix a security issue. NOTE: The package for 12.0 has a different shared library soname, and the packages for 12.1 and -current have an API/ABI change. Only the Pidgin package in Slackware links with GnuTLS, and upgraded Pidgin packages have also been made available. However, if the updated GnuTLS package is installed any other custom-compiled software that uses GnuTLS may need to be recompiled. More details about this issue will become available in the Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures (CVE) database: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2008-4989 Here are the details from the Slackware 12.1 ChangeLog: +--------------------------+ patches/packages/gnutls-2.6.1-i486-1_slack12.1.tgz: Upgraded to gnutls-2.6.1. From the gnutls-2.6.1 NEWS file: ** libgnutls: Fix X.509 certificate chain validation error. [GNUTLS-SA-2008-3] The flaw makes it possible for man in the middle attackers (i.e., active attackers) to assume any name and trick GNU TLS clients into trusting that name. Thanks for report and analysis from Martin von Gagern . [CVE-2008-4989] For more information, see: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2008-4989 IMPORTANT NOTE: This update modifies the API and ABI for the gnutls_pk_params_st function. Any software that uses the function will need to be recompiled. (* Security fix *) +--------------------------+ Where to find the new packages: +-----------------------------+ HINT: Getting slow download speeds from ftp.slackware.com? Give slackware.osuosl.org a try. This is another primary FTP site for Slackware that can beconsiderably faster than downloading directly from ftp.slackware.com. Thanks to the friendly folks at the OSU Open Source Lab (https://osuosl.org/) for donating additional FTP and rsync hosting to the Slackware project! :-) Also see the "Get Slack" section on http://www.slackware.com/ for additional mirror sites near you. Updated package for Slackware 12.0: Updated package for Slackware 12.1: Updated package for Slackware -current: MD5 signatures: +-------------+ Slackware 12.0 package: b2f8679618d7bca27161ee9e77e40be7 gnutls-2.6.1-i486-1_slack12.0.tgz Slackware 12.1 package: d71c4984aeb90571d57d55129913fa19 gnutls-2.6.1-i486-1_slack12.1.tgz Slackware -current package: a8bb0f8f70b96135a69e3eba04122e7a gnutls-2.6.1-i486-1.tgz Installation instructions: +------------------------+ Upgrade the package as root: # upgradepkg gnutls-2.6.1-i486-1_slack12.1.tgz Also install the new Pidgin package if you use it. Slackware 12.0 will require a recompile of any locally compiled GnuTLS linked packages. Recompiling locally compiled GnuTLS linked software is also recommended with Slackware 12.1 and -current, although it is probable that a lot of software would work without a recompile since only a single function (gnutls_pk_params_st) was changed. +-----+ . Recent updates to gnutls packages for Slackware address critical security vulnerabilities; an API modification necessitates that certain applications be recompiled.. GnuTLS Update, Slackware Security, Software Recompilation. . Severity: Critical. LinuxSecurity.com Team

Nov 11, 2008 •Critical Slackware