1. Ubuntu Security Notices
  2. USN-39-1

USN-39-1: Linux amd64 kernel vulnerability

Publication date

17 December 2004

Overview

Linux amd64 kernel vulnerability

Releases

Details

USN-30-1 fixed several flaws in the Linux ELF binary loader’s handling
of setuid binaries. Unfortunately it was found that these patches were
not sufficient to prevent all possible attacks on 64-bit platforms, so
previous amd64 kernel images were still vulnerable to root privilege
escalation if setuid binaries were run under certain conditions.

This issue does not affect the i386 and powerpc platforms.

USN-30-1 fixed several flaws in the Linux ELF binary loader’s handling
of setuid binaries. Unfortunately it was found that these patches were
not sufficient to prevent all possible attacks on 64-bit platforms, so
previous amd64 kernel images were still vulnerable to root privilege
escalation if setuid binaries were run under certain conditions.

This issue does not affect the i386 and powerpc platforms.

Update instructions

In general, a standard system update will make all 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
4.10 warty linux-image-2.6.8.1-4-amd64-k8 – 
linux-image-2.6.8.1-4-amd64-generic – 
linux-image-2.6.8.1-4-amd64-k8-smp – 
linux-image-2.6.8.1-4-amd64-xeon – 

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References

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