1. Ubuntu Security Notices
  2. USN-3250-2

USN-3250-2: Linux kernel (Trusty HWE) vulnerability

Publication date

29 March 2017

Overview

The system could be made to crash or run programs as an administrator.

Releases

Packages

Details

USN-3250-1 fixed a vulnerability in the Linux kernel for Ubuntu 14.04
LTS. This update provides the corresponding updates for the Linux
Hardware Enablement (HWE) kernel from Ubuntu 14.04 LTS for Ubuntu
12.04 LTS.

It was discovered that the xfrm framework for transforming packets in the
Linux kernel did not properly validate data received from user space. A
local attacker could use this to cause a denial of service (system crash)
or execute arbitrary code with administrative privileges.

USN-3250-1 fixed a vulnerability in the Linux kernel for Ubuntu 14.04
LTS. This update provides the corresponding updates for the Linux
Hardware Enablement (HWE) kernel from Ubuntu 14.04 LTS for Ubuntu
12.04 LTS.

It was discovered that the xfrm framework for transforming packets in the
Linux kernel did not properly validate data received from user space. A
local attacker could use this to cause a denial of service (system crash)
or execute arbitrary code with administrative privileges.

Update instructions

After a standard system update you need to reboot your computer to make all the necessary changes.

Learn more about how to get the fixes.

ATTENTION: Due to an unavoidable ABI change the kernel updates have been given a new version number, which requires you to recompile and reinstall all third party kernel modules you might have installed. Unless you manually uninstalled the standard kernel metapackages (e.g. linux-generic, linux-generic-lts-RELEASE, linux-virtual, linux-powerpc), a standard system upgrade will automatically perform this as well.

The problem can be corrected by updating your system to the following package versions:

Ubuntu Release Package Version
12.04 precise linux-image-3.13.0-115-generic –  3.13.0-115.162~precise1
linux-image-generic-lpae-lts-trusty –  3.13.0.115.106
linux-image-3.13.0-115-generic-lpae –  3.13.0-115.162~precise1
linux-image-generic-lts-trusty –  3.13.0.115.106

Reduce your security exposure

Ubuntu Pro provides ten-year security coverage to 25,000+ packages in Main and Universe repositories, and it is free for up to five machines.

Get Ubuntu Pro

References

Have additional questions?

Talk to a member of the team ›