Issued:
2011-02-16
Updated:
2011-02-16

RHSA-2011:0263 - Important: Red Hat Enterprise Linux 4.9 kernel security and bug fix update

Synopsis

Important: Red Hat Enterprise Linux 4.9 kernel security and bug fix update

Type/Severity

Security Advisory Important

Topic

Updated kernel packages that fix three security issues, hundreds of bugs, and add numerous enhancements are now available as part of the ongoing support and maintenance of Red Hat Enterprise Linux version 4. This is the ninth regular update.

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

Description

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

This update fixes the following security issues:

  • A buffer overflow flaw was found in the load_mixer_volumes() function in the Linux kernel's Open Sound System (OSS) sound driver. On 64-bit PowerPC systems, a local, unprivileged user could use this flaw to cause a denial of service or escalate their privileges. (CVE-2010-4527, Important)

  • A missing boundary check was found in the dvb_ca_ioctl() function in the Linux kernel's av7110 module. On systems that use old DVB cards that require the av7110 module, a local, unprivileged user could use this flaw to cause a denial of service or escalate their privileges. (CVE-2011-0521, Important)

  • A missing initialization flaw was found in the ethtool_get_regs() function in the Linux kernel's ethtool IOCTL handler. A local user who has the CAP_NET_ADMIN capability could use this flaw to cause an information leak. (CVE-2010-4655, Low)

Red Hat would like to thank Dan Rosenberg for reporting CVE-2010-4527, and Kees Cook for reporting CVE-2010-4655.

These updated kernel packages also fix hundreds of bugs and add numerous enhancements. For details on individual bug fixes and enhancements included in this update, refer to the Red Hat Enterprise Linux 4.9 Release Notes, linked to in the References section.

Users should upgrade to these updated packages, which contain backported patches to correct these issues and add these enhancements. 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 Power, big endian4ppc
Red Hat Enterprise Linux for IBM z Systems4s390x
Red Hat Enterprise Linux for IBM z Systems4s390
Red Hat Enterprise Linux Workstation4x86_64
Red Hat Enterprise Linux Workstation4ia64
Red Hat Enterprise Linux Workstation4i386
Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server4x86_64
Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server4ia64
Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server4i386
Red Hat Enterprise Linux Desktop4x86_64
Red Hat Enterprise Linux Desktop4i386

Updated Packages

  • kernel-2.6.9-100.EL.src.rpm
  • kernel-smp-devel-2.6.9-100.EL.i686.rpm
  • kernel-largesmp-2.6.9-100.EL.ia64.rpm
  • kernel-2.6.9-100.EL.ppc64iseries.rpm
  • kernel-devel-2.6.9-100.EL.s390x.rpm
  • kernel-devel-2.6.9-100.EL.i686.rpm
  • kernel-xenU-2.6.9-100.EL.x86_64.rpm
  • kernel-devel-2.6.9-100.EL.s390.rpm
  • kernel-smp-2.6.9-100.EL.i686.rpm
  • kernel-hugemem-2.6.9-100.EL.i686.rpm
  • kernel-doc-2.6.9-100.EL.noarch.rpm
  • kernel-smp-2.6.9-100.EL.x86_64.rpm
  • kernel-2.6.9-100.EL.ia64.rpm
  • kernel-largesmp-2.6.9-100.EL.ppc64.rpm
  • kernel-largesmp-2.6.9-100.EL.x86_64.rpm
  • kernel-hugemem-devel-2.6.9-100.EL.i686.rpm
  • kernel-devel-2.6.9-100.EL.ia64.rpm
  • kernel-2.6.9-100.EL.ppc64.rpm
  • kernel-xenU-devel-2.6.9-100.EL.i686.rpm
  • kernel-devel-2.6.9-100.EL.x86_64.rpm
  • kernel-devel-2.6.9-100.EL.ppc64iseries.rpm
  • kernel-largesmp-devel-2.6.9-100.EL.ia64.rpm
  • kernel-largesmp-devel-2.6.9-100.EL.x86_64.rpm
  • kernel-2.6.9-100.EL.i686.rpm
  • kernel-smp-devel-2.6.9-100.EL.x86_64.rpm
  • kernel-2.6.9-100.EL.x86_64.rpm
  • kernel-2.6.9-100.EL.s390.rpm
  • kernel-largesmp-devel-2.6.9-100.EL.ppc64.rpm
  • kernel-xenU-2.6.9-100.EL.i686.rpm
  • kernel-2.6.9-100.EL.s390x.rpm
  • kernel-devel-2.6.9-100.EL.ppc64.rpm
  • kernel-xenU-devel-2.6.9-100.EL.x86_64.rpm

Fixes

CVEs

References

Additional information