Scientific Linux Security Update : kexec-tools on SL5.x i386/x86_64 (20120221)

medium Nessus Plugin ID 61265

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Synopsis

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

Description

The kexec-tools package contains the /sbin/kexec binary and utilities that together form the user-space component of the kernel's kexec feature. The /sbin/kexec binary facilitates a new kernel to boot using the kernel's kexec feature either on a normal or a panic reboot. The kexec fastboot mechanism allows booting a Linux kernel from the context of an already running kernel.

Kdump used the SSH (Secure Shell) 'StrictHostKeyChecking=no' option when dumping to SSH targets, causing the target kdump server's SSH host key not to be checked. This could make it easier for a man-in-the-middle attacker on the local network to impersonate the kdump SSH target server and possibly gain access to sensitive information in the vmcore dumps. (CVE-2011-3588)

The mkdumprd utility created initrd files with world-readable permissions. A local user could possibly use this flaw to gain access to sensitive information, such as the private SSH key used to authenticate to a remote server when kdump was configured to dump to an SSH target. (CVE-2011-3589)

The mkdumprd utility included unneeded sensitive files (such as all files from the '/root/.ssh/' directory and the host's private SSH keys) in the resulting initrd. This could lead to an information leak when initrd files were previously created with world-readable permissions. Note: With this update, only the SSH client configuration, known hosts files, and the SSH key configured via the newly introduced sshkey option in '/etc/kdump.conf' are included in the initrd. The default is the key generated when running the 'service kdump propagate' command, '/root/.ssh/kdump_id_rsa'. (CVE-2011-3590)

This updated kexec-tools package also includes numerous bug fixes and enhancements.

All users of kexec-tools are advised to upgrade to this updated package, which resolves these security issues, fixes these bugs and adds these enhancements.

Solution

Update the affected kexec-tools and / or kexec-tools-debuginfo packages.

Plugin Details

Severity: Medium

ID: 61265

File Name: sl_20120221_kexec_tools_on_SL5_x.nasl

Version: 1.7

Type: local

Agent: unix

Family: Scientific Linux Local Security Checks

Published: 8/1/2012

Updated: 1/14/2021

Supported Sensors: Nessus Agent, Nessus

Risk Information

VPR

Risk Factor: Low

Score: 3.6

CVSS v2

Risk Factor: Medium

Base Score: 5.7

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

Vulnerability Information

CPE: p-cpe:/a:fermilab:scientific_linux:kexec-tools, p-cpe:/a:fermilab:scientific_linux:kexec-tools-debuginfo, x-cpe:/o:fermilab:scientific_linux

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

Patch Publication Date: 2/21/2012

Vulnerability Publication Date: 2/15/2014

Reference Information

CVE: CVE-2011-3588

Detections

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