Scientific Linux Security Update : nfs-utils on SL5.x i386/x86_64

high Nessus Plugin ID 60656

Synopsis

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

Description

It was discovered that nfs-utils did not use tcp_wrappers correctly.
Certain hosts access rules defined in '/etc/hosts.allow' and '/etc/hosts.deny' may not have been honored, possibly allowing remote attackers to bypass intended access restrictions. (CVE-2008-4552)

This updated package also fixes the following bugs :

- the 'LOCKD_TCPPORT' and 'LOCKD_UDPPORT' options in '/etc/sysconfig/nfs' were not honored: the lockd daemon continued to use random ports. With this update, these options are honored. (BZ#434795)

- it was not possible to mount NFS file systems from a system that has the '/etc/' directory mounted on a read-only file system (this could occur on systems with an NFS-mounted root file system). With this update, it is possible to mount NFS file systems from a system that has '/etc/' mounted on a read-only file system.
(BZ#450646)

- arguments specified by 'STATDARG=' in '/etc/sysconfig/nfs' were removed by the nfslock init script, meaning the arguments specified were never passed to rpc.statd. With this update, the nfslock init script no longer removes these arguments. (BZ#459591)

- when mounting an NFS file system from a host not specified in the NFS server's '/etc/exports' file, a misleading 'unknown host' error was logged on the server (the hostname lookup did not fail). With this update, a clearer error message is provided for these situations.
(BZ#463578)

- the nhfsstone benchmark utility did not work with NFS version 3 and 4. This update adds support to nhfsstone for NFS version 3 and 4. The new nhfsstone '-2', '-3', and '-4' options are used to select an NFS version (similar to nfsstat(8)). (BZ#465933)

- the exportfs(8) manual page contained a spelling mistake, 'djando', in the EXAMPLES section. (BZ#474848)

- in some situations the NFS server incorrectly refused mounts to hosts that had a host alias in a NIS netgroup.
(BZ#478952)

- in some situations the NFS client used its cache, rather than using the latest version of a file or directory from a given export. This update adds a new mount option, 'lookupcache=', which allows the NFS client to control how it caches files and directories. Note: The Scientific Linux 2.6.18-164 or later kernel update must be installed in order to use the 'lookupcache=' option.
Also, 'lookupcache=' is currently only available for NFS version 3. Support for NFS version 4 may be introduced in future Scientific Linux 5 updates. (BZ#489335)

After installing this update, the nfs service will be restarted automatically.

Note: This update is already in SL 5.4

Solution

Update the affected nfs-utils, nfs-utils-lib and / or nfs-utils-lib-devel packages.

See Also

https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=434795

https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=450646

https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=459591

https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=463578

https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=465933

https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=474848

https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=478952

https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=489335

http://www.nessus.org/u?9dd13b24

Plugin Details

Severity: High

ID: 60656

File Name: sl_20090902_nfs_utils_on_SL5_x.nasl

Version: 1.6

Type: local

Agent: unix

Published: 8/1/2012

Updated: 1/14/2021

Supported Sensors: Nessus Agent, Nessus

Risk Information

VPR

Risk Factor: Medium

Score: 5.2

CVSS v2

Risk Factor: High

Base Score: 7.5

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

Vulnerability Information

CPE: 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: 9/2/2009

Vulnerability Publication Date: 10/14/2008

Reference Information

CVE: CVE-2008-4552

CWE: 264