Issued:
2012-03-15
Updated:
2012-06-20

RHBA-2012:0391 - file bug fix update

Synopsis

file bug fix update

Type/Severity

Bug Fix Advisory

Topic

Updated file packages that fix multiple bugs are now available for Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6.

Description

The file command is used to identify a particular file according to the type of data contained in the file. The command can identify various file types, including ELF binaries, system libraries, RPM packages, and different graphics formats.

This update fixes the following bugs:

  • Previously, the file utility contained "magic" patterns that incorrectly detected files according to one byte only. Unicode text files starting with that particular byte could be therefore incorrectly recognized as DOS executable files. This update removes the problematic patterns. Patterns that match less than 16 bits are no longer accepted, and the utility no longer detects Unicode files as DOS executables. (BZ#688136)

  • Previously, the "magic" pattern for detection of Dell BIOS headers was outdated. As a consequence, the file utility did not detect newer BIOS formats. The "magic" pattern has been updated, and the file utility now detects new formats of Dell BIOS properly. (BZ#709846)

  • Previously, users were allowed to add new "magic" files only into the home directory. As a consequence, users were not able to configure "magic" patterns for certain special file formats system-wide. With this update, a backported patch provides a way to read "magic" patterns from the /etc/magic file. (BZ#719583)

  • Previously, "magic" patterns for Python were insufficient. The file utility was therefore unable to detect a Python script according to the Python function definition. With this update, detection of Python is improved, and Python scripts are properly recognized. (BZ#733229)

  • Previously, the file utility did not contain a "magic" pattern for detection of files compressed using the LZMA algorithm. As a consequence, the file utility was unable to detect these files. This update adds the missing "magic" pattern, and LZMA compressed files are now detected as expected. (BZ#747999)

  • Previously, the file utility did not contain a "magic" pattern to detect the swap signature on Itanium microprocessors. As a consequence, the file utility was unable to detect the signature. This update adds the missing "magic" pattern, and the swap signature on Itanium microprocessors is detected as expected. (BZ#758109)

  • Previously, the file utility did not parse the name of an RPM package from the RPM file. As a consequence, the utility did not print the name of the RPM package. This update adds a "magic" pattern for RPM package name parsing, and the name is now printed as expected. (BZ#760083)

All users of file are advised to upgrade to these updated packages, which fix these bugs.

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.https://access.redhat.com/kb/docs/DOC-11259

Affected Products

ProductVersionArch
Red Hat Enterprise Linux for Scientific Computing6x86_64
Red Hat Enterprise Linux for Power, big endian6ppc64
Red Hat Enterprise Linux for IBM z Systems6s390x
Red Hat Enterprise Linux Workstation6x86_64
Red Hat Enterprise Linux Workstation6i386
Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server6x86_64
Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server6i386
Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server from RHUI6x86_64
Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server from RHUI6i386
Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server - Retired Extended Life Cycle Support6x86_64
Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server - Extended Life Cycle Support6x86_64
Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server - Extended Life Cycle Support6i386
Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server - Extended Life Cycle Support Extension6x86_64
Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server - Extended Life Cycle Support Extension6i386
Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server - Extended Life Cycle Support Extension (for IBM z Systems)6s390x
Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server - Extended Life Cycle Support (for IBM z Systems)6s390x
Red Hat Enterprise Linux Desktop6x86_64
Red Hat Enterprise Linux Desktop6i386

Updated Packages

  • file-5.04-13.el6.src.rpm
  • file-libs-5.04-13.el6.ppc64.rpm
  • file-static-5.04-13.el6.s390x.rpm
  • file-5.04-13.el6.x86_64.rpm
  • python-magic-5.04-13.el6.i686.rpm
  • file-libs-5.04-13.el6.x86_64.rpm
  • file-static-5.04-13.el6.i686.rpm
  • file-devel-5.04-13.el6.x86_64.rpm
  • file-static-5.04-13.el6.x86_64.rpm
  • file-libs-5.04-13.el6.i686.rpm
  • file-static-5.04-13.el6.ppc64.rpm
  • file-devel-5.04-13.el6.i686.rpm
  • file-devel-5.04-13.el6.ppc64.rpm
  • file-devel-5.04-13.el6.ppc.rpm
  • python-magic-5.04-13.el6.ppc64.rpm
  • file-devel-5.04-13.el6.s390x.rpm
  • file-libs-5.04-13.el6.s390.rpm
  • file-5.04-13.el6.s390x.rpm
  • file-5.04-13.el6.i686.rpm
  • python-magic-5.04-13.el6.s390x.rpm
  • file-debuginfo-5.04-13.el6.s390.rpm
  • file-debuginfo-5.04-13.el6.ppc64.rpm
  • file-debuginfo-5.04-13.el6.ppc.rpm
  • file-libs-5.04-13.el6.ppc.rpm
  • file-5.04-13.el6.ppc64.rpm
  • python-magic-5.04-13.el6.x86_64.rpm
  • file-debuginfo-5.04-13.el6.s390x.rpm
  • file-devel-5.04-13.el6.s390.rpm
  • file-debuginfo-5.04-13.el6.x86_64.rpm
  • file-debuginfo-5.04-13.el6.i686.rpm
  • file-libs-5.04-13.el6.s390x.rpm

Fixes

CVEs

(none)

References

(none)

Additional information