USN-637-1: Linux kernel vulnerabilities

Publication date

25 August 2008

Overview

Linux kernel vulnerabilities


Details

It was discovered that there were multiple NULL-pointer function
dereferences in the Linux kernel terminal handling code. A local attacker
could exploit this to execute arbitrary code as root, or crash the system,
leading to a denial of service. (CVE-2008-2812)

The do_change_type routine did not correctly validation administrative
users. A local attacker could exploit this to block mount points or cause
private mounts to be shared, leading to denial of service or a possible
loss of privacy. (CVE-2008-2931)

Tobias Klein discovered that the OSS interface through ALSA did not
correctly validate the device number. A local attacker could exploit this
to access sensitive kernel memory, leading to a denial of service or a loss
of privacy. (CVE-2008-3272)

Zoltan Sogor discovered that new directory entries could be...

It was discovered that there were multiple NULL-pointer function
dereferences in the Linux kernel terminal handling code. A local attacker
could exploit this to execute arbitrary code as root, or crash the system,
leading to a denial of service. (CVE-2008-2812)

The do_change_type routine did not correctly validation administrative
users. A local attacker could exploit this to block mount points or cause
private mounts to be shared, leading to denial of service or a possible
loss of privacy. (CVE-2008-2931)

Tobias Klein discovered that the OSS interface through ALSA did not
correctly validate the device number. A local attacker could exploit this
to access sensitive kernel memory, leading to a denial of service or a loss
of privacy. (CVE-2008-3272)

Zoltan Sogor discovered that new directory entries could be added to
already deleted directories. A local attacker could exploit this, filling
up available memory and disk space, leading to a denial of service.
(CVE-2008-3275)

In certain situations, the fix for CVE-2008-0598 from USN-623-1 was causing
infinite loops in the writev syscall. This update corrects the mistake. We
apologize for the inconvenience.


Update instructions

After a standard system upgrade you need to reboot your computer to effect the necessary changes.

Learn more about how to get the fixes.

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

Ubuntu Release Package Version
8.04 hardy linux-image-2.6.24-19-server –  2.6.24-19.41
linux-image-2.6.24-19-virtual –  2.6.24-19.41
linux-image-2.6.24-19-lpia –  2.6.24-19.41
linux-image-2.6.24-19-openvz –  2.6.24-19.41
linux-image-2.6.24-19-386 –  2.6.24-19.41
linux-image-2.6.24-19-mckinley –  2.6.24-19.41
linux-image-2.6.24-19-powerpc –  2.6.24-19.41
linux-image-2.6.24-19-sparc64 –  2.6.24-19.41
linux-image-2.6.24-19-sparc64-smp –  2.6.24-19.41
linux-image-2.6.24-19-powerpc-smp –  2.6.24-19.41
linux-image-2.6.24-19-itanium –  2.6.24-19.41
linux-image-2.6.24-19-hppa64 –  2.6.24-19.41
linux-image-2.6.24-19-xen –  2.6.24-19.41
linux-image-2.6.24-19-powerpc64-smp –  2.6.24-19.41
linux-image-2.6.24-19-rt –  2.6.24-19.41
linux-image-2.6.24-19-generic –  2.6.24-19.41
linux-image-2.6.24-19-hppa32 –  2.6.24-19.41
linux-image-2.6.24-19-lpiacompat –  2.6.24-19.41
7.10 gutsy linux-image-2.6.22-15-mckinley –  2.6.22-15.58
linux-image-2.6.22-15-generic –  2.6.22-15.58
linux-image-2.6.22-15-hppa32 –  2.6.22-15.58
linux-image-2.6.22-15-xen –  2.6.22-15.58
linux-image-2.6.22-15-sparc64-smp –  2.6.22-15.58
linux-image-2.6.22-15-powerpc –  2.6.22-15.58
linux-image-2.6.22-15-itanium –  2.6.22-15.58
linux-image-2.6.22-15-lpiacompat –  2.6.22-15.58
linux-image-2.6.22-15-386 –  2.6.22-15.58
linux-image-2.6.22-15-powerpc-smp –  2.6.22-15.58
linux-image-2.6.22-15-lpia –  2.6.22-15.58
linux-image-2.6.22-15-sparc64 –  2.6.22-15.58
linux-image-2.6.22-15-rt –  2.6.22-15.58
linux-image-2.6.22-15-virtual –  2.6.22-15.58
linux-image-2.6.22-15-server –  2.6.22-15.58
linux-image-2.6.22-15-powerpc64-smp –  2.6.22-15.58
linux-image-2.6.22-15-hppa64 –  2.6.22-15.58
linux-image-2.6.22-15-cell –  2.6.22-15.58
linux-image-2.6.22-15-ume –  2.6.22-15.58
7.04 feisty linux-image-2.6.20-17-hppa32 –  2.6.20-17.39
linux-image-2.6.20-17-386 –  2.6.20-17.39
linux-image-2.6.20-17-sparc64-smp –  2.6.20-17.39
linux-image-2.6.20-17-generic –  2.6.20-17.39
linux-image-2.6.20-17-hppa64 –  2.6.20-17.39
linux-image-2.6.20-17-lowlatency –  2.6.20-17.39
linux-image-2.6.20-17-mckinley –  2.6.20-17.39
linux-image-2.6.20-17-server-bigiron –  2.6.20-17.39
linux-image-2.6.20-17-server –  2.6.20-17.39
linux-image-2.6.20-17-powerpc64-smp –  2.6.20-17.39
linux-image-2.6.20-17-powerpc –  2.6.20-17.39
linux-image-2.6.20-17-powerpc-smp –  2.6.20-17.39
linux-image-2.6.20-17-sparc64 –  2.6.20-17.39
linux-image-2.6.20-17-itanium –  2.6.20-17.39
6.06 dapper linux-image-2.6.15-52-386 –  2.6.15-52.71
linux-image-2.6.15-52-mckinley –  2.6.15-52.71
linux-image-2.6.15-52-amd64-server –  2.6.15-52.71
linux-image-2.6.15-52-hppa32 –  2.6.15-52.71
linux-image-2.6.15-52-k7 –  2.6.15-52.71
linux-image-2.6.15-52-686 –  2.6.15-52.71
linux-image-2.6.15-52-amd64-k8 –  2.6.15-52.71
linux-image-2.6.15-52-server-bigiron –  2.6.15-52.71
linux-image-2.6.15-52-powerpc64-smp –  2.6.15-52.71
linux-image-2.6.15-52-sparc64-smp –  2.6.15-52.71
linux-image-2.6.15-52-itanium –  2.6.15-52.71
linux-image-2.6.15-52-server –  2.6.15-52.71
linux-image-2.6.15-52-hppa32-smp –  2.6.15-52.71
linux-image-2.6.15-52-amd64-xeon –  2.6.15-52.71
linux-image-2.6.15-52-mckinley-smp –  2.6.15-52.71
linux-image-2.6.15-52-hppa64-smp –  2.6.15-52.71
linux-image-2.6.15-52-hppa64 –  2.6.15-52.71
linux-image-2.6.15-52-powerpc –  2.6.15-52.71
linux-image-2.6.15-52-powerpc-smp –  2.6.15-52.71
linux-image-2.6.15-52-amd64-generic –  2.6.15-52.71
linux-image-2.6.15-52-itanium-smp –  2.6.15-52.71
linux-image-2.6.15-52-sparc64 –  2.6.15-52.71

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