8.5 - RHSA-2013:1475

Problem Description:

Updated postgresql and postgresql84 packages that fix two security issues are now available for Red Hat Enterprise Linux 5 and 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:

RHEL Desktop Workstation (v. 5 client) - i386, x86_64 Red Hat Enterprise Linux (v. 5 server) - i386, ia64, ppc, s390x, x86_64 Red Hat Enterprise Linux Desktop (v. 5 client) - i386, x86_64 Red Hat Enterprise Linux Desktop (v. 6) - i386, x86_64 Red Hat Enterprise Linux Desktop Optional (v. 6) - i386, x86_64 Red Hat Enterprise Linux HPC Node (v. 6) - x86_64 Red Hat Enterprise Linux HPC Node Optional (v. 6) - x86_64 Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server (v. 6) - i386, ppc64, s390x, x86_64 Red Hat Enterprise Linux Workstation (v. 6) - i386, x86_64

3. Description:

PostgreSQL is an advanced object-relational database management system (DBMS).

An array index error, leading to a heap-based out-of-bounds buffer read flaw, was found in the way PostgreSQL performed certain error processing using enumeration types. An unprivileged database user could issue a specially crafted SQL query that, when processed by the server component of the PostgreSQL service, would lead to a denial of service (daemon crash) or disclosure of certain portions of server memory. (CVE-2013-0255)

A flaw was found in the way the pgcrypto contrib module of PostgreSQL (re)initialized its internal random number generator. This could lead to random numbers with less bits of entropy being used by certain pgcrypto functions, possibly allowing an attacker to conduct other attacks. (CVE-2013-1900)

Red Hat would like to thank the PostgreSQL project for reporting these issues. Upstream acknowledges Sumit Soni via Secunia SVCRP as the original reporter of CVE-2013-0255, and Marko Kreen as the original reporter of CVE-2013-1900.

These updated packages upgrade PostgreSQL to version 8.4.18, which fixes these issues as well as several non-security issues. Refer to the PostgreSQL Release Notes for a full list of changes:

http://www.postgresql.org/docs/8.4/static/release-8-4-18.html

After installing this update, it is advisable to rebuild, using the REINDEX command, Generalized Search Tree (GiST) indexes that meet one or more of the following conditions:

- - GiST indexes on box, polygon, circle, or point columns

- - GiST indexes for variable-width data types, that is text, bytea, bit, and numeric

- - GiST multi-column indexes

All PostgreSQL users are advised to upgrade to these updated packages, which contain backported patches to correct these issues. If the postgresql service is running, it will be automatically restarted after installing this update.

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/site/articles/11258

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

907892 - CVE-2013-0255 postgresql: array indexing error in enum_recv() 929255 - CVE-2013-1900 postgresql: Improper randomization of pgcrypto functions (requiring random seed)