Mandrake Linux Security Advisory : kernel22 (MDKSA-2003:039)

high Nessus Plugin ID 14023

Synopsis

The remote Mandrake Linux host is missing one or more security updates.

Description

A number of vulnerabilities have been found in the Linux 2.2 kernel that have been addressed with the latest 2.2.25 release.

A bug in the kernel module loader code could allow a local user to gain root privileges. This is done by a local user using ptrace and attaching to a modprobe process that is spawned if the user triggers the loading of a kernel module.

A temporary workaround can be used to defend against this flaw. It is possible to temporarily disable the kmod kernel module loading subsystem in the kernel after all of the required kernel modules have been loaded. Be sure that you do not need to load additional kernel modules after implementing this workaround. To use it, as root execute :

echo /no/such/file >/proc/sys/kernel/modprobe

To automate this, you may wish to add it as the last line of the /etc/rc.d/rc.local file. You can revert this change by replacing the content '/sbin/modprobe' in the /proc/sys/kernel/modprobe file. The root user can still manually load kernel modules with this workaround in place.

As well, multiple ethernet device drivers do not pad frames with null bytes, which could allow remote attackers to obtain information from previous packets or kernel memory by using malformed packets.

Finally, the 2.2 kernel allows local users to cause a crash of the host system by using the mmap() function with a PROT_READ parameter to access non-readable memory pages through the /proc/pid/mem interface.

All users are encouraged to upgrade to the latest kernel version provided.

For instructions on how to upgrade your kernel in Mandrake Linux, please refer to :

http://www.mandrakesecure.net/en/kernelupdate.php

Solution

Update the affected packages.

Plugin Details

Severity: High

ID: 14023

File Name: mandrake_MDKSA-2003-039.nasl

Version: 1.20

Type: local

Published: 7/31/2004

Updated: 1/6/2021

Supported Sensors: Nessus

Risk Information

VPR

Risk Factor: High

Score: 8.9

CVSS v2

Risk Factor: High

Base Score: 7.2

Vector: CVSS2#AV:L/AC:L/Au:N/C:C/I:C/A:C

Vulnerability Information

CPE: p-cpe:/a:mandriva:linux:alsa, p-cpe:/a:mandriva:linux:alsa-source, p-cpe:/a:mandriva:linux:kernel, p-cpe:/a:mandriva:linux:kernel-doc, p-cpe:/a:mandriva:linux:kernel-headers, p-cpe:/a:mandriva:linux:kernel-pcmcia-cs, p-cpe:/a:mandriva:linux:kernel-secure, p-cpe:/a:mandriva:linux:kernel-smp, p-cpe:/a:mandriva:linux:kernel-source, p-cpe:/a:mandriva:linux:kernel-utils, p-cpe:/a:mandriva:linux:kernel22, p-cpe:/a:mandriva:linux:kernel22-smp, p-cpe:/a:mandriva:linux:kernel22-source, p-cpe:/a:mandriva:linux:reiserfs-utils, cpe:/o:mandrakesoft:mandrake_linux:7.2, cpe:/o:mandrakesoft:mandrake_linux:8.1, cpe:/o:mandrakesoft:mandrake_linux:8.2

Required KB Items: Host/local_checks_enabled, Host/cpu, Host/Mandrake/release, Host/Mandrake/rpm-list

Exploit Available: true

Exploit Ease: Exploits are available

Patch Publication Date: 3/27/2003

Reference Information

CVE: CVE-2002-1380, CVE-2003-0001, CVE-2003-0127

MDKSA: 2003:039