RHSA-2008:0038

Problem Description:

Updated postgresql packages that fix several security issues are now
available for Red Hat Enterprise Linux 4 and 5.

This update has been rated as having moderate security impact by the Red
Hat Security Response Team.

2. Relevant releases/architectures:

Red Hat Enterprise Linux AS version 4 - i386, ia64, ppc, s390, s390x, x86_64
Red Hat Enterprise Linux Desktop version 4 - i386, x86_64
Red Hat Enterprise Linux ES version 4 - i386, ia64, x86_64
Red Hat Enterprise Linux WS version 4 - i386, ia64, x86_64
Red Hat Enterprise Linux Desktop (v. 5 client) - i386, x86_64
RHEL Desktop Workstation (v. 5 client) - i386, x86_64
Red Hat Enterprise Linux (v. 5 server) - i386, ia64, ppc, s390x, x86_64

3. Description:

PostgreSQL is an advanced Object-Relational database management system
(DBMS). The postgresql packages include the client programs and libraries
needed to access a PostgreSQL DBMS server.

Will Drewry discovered multiple flaws in PostgreSQL's regular expression
engine. An authenticated attacker could use these flaws to cause a denial
of service by causing the PostgreSQL server to crash, enter an infinite
loop, or use extensive CPU and memory resources while processing queries
containing specially crafted regular expressions. Applications that accept
regular expressions from untrusted sources may expose this problem to
unauthorized attackers. (CVE-2007-4769, CVE-2007-4772, CVE-2007-6067)

A privilege escalation flaw was discovered in PostgreSQL. An authenticated
attacker could create an index function that would be executed with
administrator privileges during database maintenance tasks, such as
database vacuuming. (CVE-2007-6600)

A privilege escalation flaw was discovered in PostgreSQL's Database Link
library (dblink). An authenticated attacker could use dblink to possibly
escalate privileges on systems with "trust" or "ident" authentication
configured. Please note that dblink functionality is not enabled by
default, and can only by enabled by a database administrator on systems
with the postgresql-contrib package installed. (CVE-2007-3278,
CVE-2007-6601)

All postgresql users should upgrade to these updated packages, which
include PostgreSQL 7.4.19 and 8.1.11, and resolve these issues.

4. Solution:

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

This update is available via Red Hat Network. Details on how to use
the Red Hat Network to apply this update are available at
http://kbase.redhat.com/faq/FAQ_58_10188

5. Bugs fixed (http://bugzilla.redhat.com/):

309141 - CVE-2007-3278 dblink allows proxying of database connections via 127.0.0.1
315231 - CVE-2007-4769 postgresql integer overflow in regex code
316511 - CVE-2007-4772 postgresql DoS via infinite loop in regex NFA optimization code
400931 - CVE-2007-6067 postgresql: tempory DoS caused by slow regex NFA cleanup
427127 - CVE-2007-6600 PostgreSQL privilege escalation
427128 - CVE-2007-6601 PostgreSQL privilege escalation via dblink