1. Ubuntu Security Notices
  2. USN-3105-1

USN-3105-1: Linux kernel vulnerability

Publication date

20 October 2016

Overview

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

Releases

Packages

Details

It was discovered that a race condition existed in the memory manager of
the Linux kernel when handling copy-on-write breakage of private read-only
memory mappings. A local attacker could use this to gain administrative
privileges.

It was discovered that a race condition existed in the memory manager of
the Linux kernel when handling copy-on-write breakage of private read-only
memory mappings. A local attacker could use this to gain 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
14.04 trusty linux-image-3.13.0-100-generic –  3.13.0-100.147
linux-image-3.13.0-100-generic-lpae –  3.13.0-100.147
linux-image-3.13.0-100-lowlatency –  3.13.0-100.147
linux-image-3.13.0-100-powerpc-e500 –  3.13.0-100.147
linux-image-3.13.0-100-powerpc-e500mc –  3.13.0-100.147
linux-image-3.13.0-100-powerpc-smp –  3.13.0-100.147
linux-image-3.13.0-100-powerpc64-emb –  3.13.0-100.147
linux-image-3.13.0-100-powerpc64-smp –  3.13.0-100.147

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 ›