2.1 - RHSA-2013:1674

Problem Description:

Updated dracut packages that fix one security issue, 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. A Common Vulnerability Scoring System (CVSS) base score, which gives a detailed severity rating, is available from the CVE link in the References section.

2. Relevant releases/architectures:

Red Hat Enterprise Linux Desktop (v. 6) - noarch Red Hat Enterprise Linux Desktop Optional (v. 6) - noarch Red Hat Enterprise Linux HPC Node (v. 6) - noarch Red Hat Enterprise Linux HPC Node Optional (v. 6) - noarch Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server (v. 6) - noarch Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server Optional (v. 6) - noarch Red Hat Enterprise Linux Workstation (v. 6) - noarch Red Hat Enterprise Linux Workstation Optional (v. 6) - noarch

3. Description:

The dracut packages include an event-driven initramfs generator infrastructure based on the udev device manager. The virtual file system, initramfs, is loaded together with the kernel at boot time and initializes the system, so it can read and boot from the root partition.

It was discovered that dracut created initramfs images as world readable. A local user could possibly use this flaw to obtain sensitive information from these files, such as iSCSI authentication passwords, encrypted root file system crypttab passwords, or other information. (CVE-2012-4453)

This issue was discovered by Peter Jones of the Red Hat Installer Team.

These updated dracut packages include numerous bug fixes and two enhancements. Space precludes documenting all of these changes in this advisory. Users are directed to the Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6.5 Technical Notes, linked to in the References, for information on the most significant of these changes.

All dracut users are advised to upgrade to these updated packages, which contain backported patches to correct these issues and add these enhancements.

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 (https://bugzilla.redhat.com/):

610462 - mkinitrd has no man page 720684 - Booting with snapshot of / requires non user-friendly config 859448 - CVE-2012-4453 dracut: Creates initramfs images with world-readable permissions (information disclosure) 912299 - kernel installation fails if GREP_OPTIONS is set 1012626 - [FIPS140] dracut-fip updates needed for certification 1019104 - Interface renaming via ifname does not work for RHEL-6.5