USN-2858-1: Linux kernel vulnerability

Publication date

5 January 2016

Overview

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

Releases


Packages

Details

Nathan Williams discovered that overlayfs in the Linux kernel incorrectly
handled setattr operations. A local unprivileged attacker could use this to
create files with administrative permission attributes and execute
arbitrary code with elevated privileges.

Nathan Williams discovered that overlayfs in the Linux kernel incorrectly
handled setattr operations. A local unprivileged attacker could use this to
create files with administrative permission attributes and execute
arbitrary code with elevated 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:


Reduce your security exposure

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Have additional questions?

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