Issued:
2010-05-18
Updated:
2010-05-18

RHSA-2010:0424 - Important: kernel security and enhancement update

Synopsis

Important: kernel security and enhancement update

Type/Severity

Security Advisory Important

Topic

Updated kernel packages that fix one security issue and add one enhancement are now available for Red Hat Enterprise Linux 4.7 Extended Update Support.

The Red Hat Security Response Team has rated this update as having important 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.

Description

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

This update fixes the following security issue:

  • a use-after-free flaw was found in the tcp_rcv_state_process() function in the Linux kernel TCP/IP protocol suite implementation. If a system using IPv6 had the IPV6_RECVPKTINFO option set on a listening socket, a remote attacker could send an IPv6 packet to that system, causing a kernel panic (denial of service). (CVE-2010-1188, Important)

This update also adds the following enhancement:

  • kernel support for the iptables connlimit module. This module can be used to help mitigate some types of denial of service attacks. Note: This update alone does not address connlimit support. A future iptables package update will allow connlimit to work correctly. (BZ#563222)

Users should upgrade to these updated packages, which contain backported patches to correct this issue and add this enhancement. The system must be rebooted for this update to take effect.

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

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.

Affected Products

ProductVersionArch
Red Hat Enterprise Linux for x86_64 - Extended Update Support4.7x86_64
Red Hat Enterprise Linux for x86_64 - Extended Update Support4.7ia64
Red Hat Enterprise Linux for x86_64 - Extended Update Support4.7i386
Red Hat Enterprise Linux for Power, big endian - Extended Update Support4.7ppc
Red Hat Enterprise Linux for IBM z Systems - Extended Update Support4.7s390x
Red Hat Enterprise Linux for IBM z Systems - Extended Update Support4.7s390

Updated Packages

  • kernel-2.6.9-78.0.31.EL.s390x.rpm
  • kernel-2.6.9-78.0.31.EL.src.rpm
  • kernel-hugemem-devel-2.6.9-78.0.31.EL.i686.rpm
  • kernel-smp-devel-2.6.9-78.0.31.EL.i686.rpm
  • kernel-2.6.9-78.0.31.EL.s390.rpm
  • kernel-largesmp-devel-2.6.9-78.0.31.EL.ia64.rpm
  • kernel-smp-2.6.9-78.0.31.EL.i686.rpm
  • kernel-smp-2.6.9-78.0.31.EL.x86_64.rpm
  • kernel-largesmp-2.6.9-78.0.31.EL.ia64.rpm
  • kernel-2.6.9-78.0.31.EL.i686.rpm
  • kernel-xenU-2.6.9-78.0.31.EL.i686.rpm
  • kernel-xenU-2.6.9-78.0.31.EL.x86_64.rpm
  • kernel-2.6.9-78.0.31.EL.ia64.rpm
  • kernel-xenU-devel-2.6.9-78.0.31.EL.i686.rpm
  • kernel-2.6.9-78.0.31.EL.ppc64iseries.rpm
  • kernel-devel-2.6.9-78.0.31.EL.s390.rpm
  • kernel-devel-2.6.9-78.0.31.EL.ppc64iseries.rpm
  • kernel-devel-2.6.9-78.0.31.EL.ppc64.rpm
  • kernel-smp-devel-2.6.9-78.0.31.EL.x86_64.rpm
  • kernel-xenU-devel-2.6.9-78.0.31.EL.x86_64.rpm
  • kernel-largesmp-devel-2.6.9-78.0.31.EL.x86_64.rpm
  • kernel-largesmp-2.6.9-78.0.31.EL.ppc64.rpm
  • kernel-devel-2.6.9-78.0.31.EL.s390x.rpm
  • kernel-2.6.9-78.0.31.EL.ppc64.rpm
  • kernel-devel-2.6.9-78.0.31.EL.x86_64.rpm
  • kernel-2.6.9-78.0.31.EL.x86_64.rpm
  • kernel-largesmp-2.6.9-78.0.31.EL.x86_64.rpm
  • kernel-devel-2.6.9-78.0.31.EL.i686.rpm
  • kernel-doc-2.6.9-78.0.31.EL.noarch.rpm
  • kernel-devel-2.6.9-78.0.31.EL.ia64.rpm
  • kernel-hugemem-2.6.9-78.0.31.EL.i686.rpm
  • kernel-largesmp-devel-2.6.9-78.0.31.EL.ppc64.rpm

Fixes

CVEs

References

Additional information