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AUSCERT External Security Bulletin Redistribution
ESB-2009.1477
New Linux kernel privilege escalation - heads up notice
5 November 2009
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AusCERT Security Bulletin Summary
---------------------------------
Product: kernel
Publisher: SUSE
Operating System: SUSE
Impact/Access: Root Compromise -- Existing Account
Resolution: Mitigation
CVE Names: CVE-2009-3547
Reference: ESB-2009.1467
Comment: SUSE have stated that there are no workarounds for this
vulnerability on specific versions of their OS. Until patches are
released administrators may wish to consider installing Logwatch
to look for suspicious activity. If an attacker is able to exploit
the vulnerability and obtain root privileges, they would of course
be able to turn off or modify these logs.
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Hi,
A bug in the Linux kernels "pipe" system call implementation was found which
can be used by local attackers to gain root privileges.
CVE-2009-3547
http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2009/11/03/1
This problem affects all our currently maintained Linux products.
- - SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 9 / Open Enterprise Server 1
Are affected. Updates are being prepared and will be released next week.
There is unfortunately no workaround possible.
- - SUSE Linux Enterprise Server / Desktop 10 SP2,
Open Enterprise Server 2 SP1
Are affected. Updates are being QA'ed and will be released begin of
next week.
There is unfortunately no workaround possible.
- - SUSE Linux Enterprise Server / Desktop 10 SP3
Are affected. Updates are being QA'ed and will be released begin of
next week.
A workaround is possible by enabling the MMAP null page exploitprotection
by enabling the "mmap_min_addr" protection in this kernel, by doing (as r=
oot):
echo -n 65536 > /proc/sys/vm/mmap_min_addr
To keep this persistent over the next boot, you can also add it to=20
/etc/sysctl.conf:
vm.mmap_min_addr =3D 65536
(We did not enable this by default to avoid breaking legacy software.)
- - SUSE Linux Enterprise Server / Desktop 11
openSUSE 11.0
openSUSE 11.1
Are affected by this problem, but the exploit can not be used to execute =
code,
just to cause a crash / "Oops".
The kernel is using the MMAP null page exploit protection by default and =
so
the exploit is not effective (will just lead to a Ooops).
You can verify the protection to be enabled by doing:
cat /proc/sys/vm/mmap_min_addr
A value larger than 0 means "enabled".
Updates that fix this issue will be published, but not in the same hurry =
as for
the older product lines.
The several days delay in getting Kernel updates out is due to kernel
QA taking around 4 days, as they include numbers of regressions, burn-in
and partner tests and careful evaluation of the generated results.
Ciao, Marcus
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