Issued:
2009-12-21
Updated:
2009-12-21

RHBA-2009:1686 - ksh bug fix update

Synopsis

ksh bug fix update

Type/Severity

Bug Fix Advisory

Topic

An updated ksh package that fixes two bugs is now available.

Description

KSH-93 is the most recent version of the KornShell by David Korn of AT&T Bell Laboratories. KornShell is a shell programming language which is also compatible with "sh", the original Bourne Shell.

This updated ksh package includes fixes for the following bugs:

  • when a ksh script included multibyte characters, ksh's script parser then failed to parse the script and printed a "syntax error" message. This updated package corrects this error: ksh's script parser now correctly handles multibyte characters and no error is returned when they are found. (BZ#543447)

  • the ksh shell uses a special variable, "$!", which contains the process ID (pid) of the last background job or background function. However, the $! variable did not contain the correct pid when it was called within a ksh function (defined with the "function" syntax). With this update, referencing the $! special variable works as expected and the correct process ID of the last background job or function is returned, even when it is referenced from within a ksh script function. (BZ#544974)

All KornShell users are advised to upgrade to this updated package, which resolves these issues.

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 This content is not included.http://kbase.redhat.com/faq/docs/DOC-11259

Affected Products

ProductVersionArch
Red Hat Enterprise Linux for x86_64 - Extended Update Support5.4x86_64
Red Hat Enterprise Linux for x86_64 - Extended Update Support5.4ia64
Red Hat Enterprise Linux for x86_64 - Extended Update Support5.4i386
Red Hat Enterprise Linux for Power, big endian5ppc
Red Hat Enterprise Linux for Power, big endian - Extended Update Support5.4ppc
Red Hat Enterprise Linux for IBM z Systems5s390x
Red Hat Enterprise Linux for IBM z Systems - Extended Update Support5.4s390x
Red Hat Enterprise Linux Workstation5x86_64
Red Hat Enterprise Linux Workstation5i386
Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server5x86_64
Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server5ia64
Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server5i386
Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server from RHUI5x86_64
Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server from RHUI5i386

Updated Packages

  • ksh-20080202-14.el5_4.2.ppc.rpm
  • ksh-20080202-14.el5_4.2.src.rpm
  • ksh-20080202-14.el5_4.2.s390x.rpm
  • ksh-20080202-14.el5_4.2.i386.rpm
  • ksh-20080202-14.el5_4.2.x86_64.rpm
  • ksh-20080202-14.el5_4.2.ia64.rpm

Fixes

CVEs

(none)

References

(none)

Additional information