4.9 - RHSA-2011:0283

Problem Description:

Updated kernel packages that fix three security issues, several bugs, and add two enhancements are now available for Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6.

The Red Hat Security Response Team has rated this update as having moderate security impact. Common Vulnerability Scoring System (CVSS) base scores, which give detailed severity ratings, are available for each vulnerability from the CVE links in the References section.

2. Relevant releases/architectures:

Red Hat Enterprise Linux Desktop (v. 6) - i386, noarch, x86_64 Red Hat Enterprise Linux HPC Node (v. 6) - noarch, x86_64 Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server (v. 6) - i386, noarch, ppc64, s390x, x86_64 Red Hat Enterprise Linux Workstation (v. 6) - i386, noarch, x86_64

3. Description:

The kernel packages contain the Linux kernel, the core of any Linux operating system.

This update fixes the following security issues:

* A divide-by-zero flaw was found in the tcp_select_initial_window() function in the Linux kernel's TCP/IP protocol suite implementation. A local, unprivileged user could use this flaw to trigger a denial of service by calling setsockopt() with certain options. (CVE-2010-4165, Moderate)

* A use-after-free flaw in the mprotect() system call in the Linux kernel could allow a local, unprivileged user to cause a local denial of service. (CVE-2010-4169, Moderate)

* A flaw was found in the Linux kernel execve() system call implementation. A local, unprivileged user could cause large amounts of memory to be allocated but not visible to the OOM (Out of Memory) killer, triggering a denial of service. (CVE-2010-4243, Moderate)

Red Hat would like to thank Steve Chen for reporting CVE-2010-4165, and Brad Spengler for reporting CVE-2010-4243.

This update also fixes several bugs and adds two enhancements. Documentation for these bug fixes and enhancements 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 these issues, and fix the bugs and add the enhancements noted in the Technical Notes. The system must be rebooted for this update to take effect.

4. 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/kb/docs/DOC-11259

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.

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

625688 - CVE-2010-4243 kernel: mm: mem allocated invisible to oom_kill() when not attached to any threads 651671 - CVE-2010-4169 kernel: perf bug 652508 - CVE-2010-4165 kernel: possible kernel oops from user MSS 652720 - read from virtio-serial returns if the host side is not connect to pipe [rhel-6.0.z] 658854 - [NetApp 6.1 bug] RHEL6.0 FC host hits kernel panic at scsi_error_handler [rhel-6.0.z] 658891 - [6.0.z FEAT] Port KVM bug fixes for cr_access to RHEL 6 [rhel-6.0.z] 659610 - [NetApp 6.1 bug] SCSI ALUA handler fails to handle ALUA transitioning properly [rhel-6.0.z] 660590 - [NetApp 6.1 bug] regression: allow offlined devs to be set to running [rhel-6.0.z] 661730 - NFS4 clients cannot reclaim locks after server reboot [rhel-6.0.z] 661731 - kernel: Problem with execve(2) reintroduced [rhel-6.1] [rhel-6.0.z] 661737 - xen PV guest kernel 2.6.32 processes lock up in D state [rhel-6.0.z] 662721 - Fix hot-unplug handling of virtio-console ports [rhel-6.0.z] 662921 - UV: WAR for interrupt-IOPort deadlock [rhel-6.0.z] 664398 - QLogic qla2xxx: Backport critical parts of 8.03.05.01.06.1-k0 to [rhel-6.0.z] 671342 - System panic in pskb_expand_head When arp_validate option is specified in bonding ARP monitor mode [rhel-6.0.z] 673978 - [NetApp 6.0 Bug] Erroneous TPG ID check in SCSI ALUA Handler [rhel-6.0.z]