1. Ubuntu Security Notices
  2. USN-2947-2

USN-2947-2: Linux kernel (Wily HWE) vulnerabilities

Publication date

6 April 2016

Overview

Several security issues were fixed in the kernel.

Releases

Packages

  • linux-lts-wily - Linux hardware enablement kernel from Wily for Trusty

Details

Ralf Spenneberg discovered that the usbvision driver in the Linux kernel
did not properly validate the interfaces and endpoints reported by the
device. An attacker with physical access could cause a denial of service
(system crash). (CVE-2015-7833)

Venkatesh Pottem discovered a use-after-free vulnerability in the Linux
kernel’s CXGB3 driver. A local attacker could use this to cause a denial of
service (system crash) or possibly execute arbitrary code. (CVE-2015-8812)

Xiaofei Rex Guo discovered a timing side channel vulnerability in the Linux
Extended Verification Module (EVM). An attacker could use this to affect
system integrity. (CVE-2016-2085)

It was discovered that the extended Berkeley Packet Filter (eBPF)
implementation in the Linux kernel did not correctly compute branch offsets
for backward jumps after...

Ralf Spenneberg discovered that the usbvision driver in the Linux kernel
did not properly validate the interfaces and endpoints reported by the
device. An attacker with physical access could cause a denial of service
(system crash). (CVE-2015-7833)

Venkatesh Pottem discovered a use-after-free vulnerability in the Linux
kernel’s CXGB3 driver. A local attacker could use this to cause a denial of
service (system crash) or possibly execute arbitrary code. (CVE-2015-8812)

Xiaofei Rex Guo discovered a timing side channel vulnerability in the Linux
Extended Verification Module (EVM). An attacker could use this to affect
system integrity. (CVE-2016-2085)

It was discovered that the extended Berkeley Packet Filter (eBPF)
implementation in the Linux kernel did not correctly compute branch offsets
for backward jumps after ctx expansion. A local attacker could use this to
cause a denial of service (system crash) or possibly execute arbitrary
code. (CVE-2016-2383)

David Herrmann discovered that the Linux kernel incorrectly accounted file
descriptors to the original opener for in-flight file descriptors sent over
a unix domain socket. A local attacker could use this to cause a denial of
service (resource exhaustion). (CVE-2016-2550)

It was discovered that the Linux kernel did not enforce limits on the
amount of data allocated to buffer pipes. A local attacker could use this
to cause a denial of service (resource exhaustion). (CVE-2016-2847)

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
14.04 trusty linux-image-4.2.0-35-generic –  4.2.0-35.40~14.04.1
linux-image-4.2.0-35-generic-lpae –  4.2.0-35.40~14.04.1
linux-image-4.2.0-35-lowlatency –  4.2.0-35.40~14.04.1
linux-image-4.2.0-35-powerpc-e500mc –  4.2.0-35.40~14.04.1
linux-image-4.2.0-35-powerpc-smp –  4.2.0-35.40~14.04.1
linux-image-4.2.0-35-powerpc64-emb –  4.2.0-35.40~14.04.1
linux-image-4.2.0-35-powerpc64-smp –  4.2.0-35.40~14.04.1

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 ›