Scientific Linux Security Update : kernel on SL5.x i386/x86_64 (20120417)

medium Nessus Plugin ID 61301

Synopsis

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

Description

The kernel packages contain the Linux kernel, the core of any Linux operating system.

This update fixes the following security issue :

- A flaw in the xfrm6_tunnel_rcv() function in the Linux kernel's IPv6 implementation could lead to a use-after-free or double free flaw in tunnel6_rcv(). A remote attacker could use this flaw to send specially crafted packets to a target system that is using IPv6 and also has the xfrm6_tunnel kernel module loaded, causing it to crash. (CVE-2012-1583, Important)

If you do not run applications that use xfrm6_tunnel, you can prevent the xfrm6_tunnel module from being loaded by creating (as the root user) a '/etc/modprobe.d/xfrm6_tunnel.conf' file, and adding the following line to it :

blacklist xfrm6_tunnel

This way, the xfrm6_tunnel module cannot be loaded accidentally. A reboot is not necessary for this change to take effect.

This update also fixes various bugs and adds an enhancement. The system must be rebooted for this update to take effect.

The corresponding kernel-module-<module>-<kernel-version> modules have also been updated to match the kernel version.

Solution

Update the affected packages.

See Also

http://www.nessus.org/u?a5be6484

Plugin Details

Severity: Medium

ID: 61301

File Name: sl_20120417_kernel_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: 4.4

CVSS v2

Risk Factor: Medium

Base Score: 5

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

Vulnerability Information

CPE: p-cpe:/a:fermilab:scientific_linux:kernel, p-cpe:/a:fermilab:scientific_linux:kernel-pae, p-cpe:/a:fermilab:scientific_linux:kernel-pae-debuginfo, p-cpe:/a:fermilab:scientific_linux:kernel-pae-devel, p-cpe:/a:fermilab:scientific_linux:kernel-debug, p-cpe:/a:fermilab:scientific_linux:kernel-debug-debuginfo, p-cpe:/a:fermilab:scientific_linux:kernel-debug-devel, p-cpe:/a:fermilab:scientific_linux:kernel-debuginfo, p-cpe:/a:fermilab:scientific_linux:kernel-debuginfo-common, p-cpe:/a:fermilab:scientific_linux:kernel-devel, p-cpe:/a:fermilab:scientific_linux:kernel-doc, p-cpe:/a:fermilab:scientific_linux:kernel-headers, p-cpe:/a:fermilab:scientific_linux:kernel-xen, p-cpe:/a:fermilab:scientific_linux:kernel-xen-debuginfo, p-cpe:/a:fermilab:scientific_linux:kernel-xen-devel, 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: 4/17/2012

Vulnerability Publication Date: 6/16/2012

Reference Information

CVE: CVE-2012-1583