glibc security update (RHSA-2010-0793)

Original Release Date: November 30, 2010
Last Revised: June 24, 2013
Number: ASA-2010-333
Risk Level: Low
Advisory Version: 7.0
Advisory Status: Final

1. Overview:

The glibc packages contain the standard C libraries used by multiple programs on the system. These packages contain the standard C and the standard math libraries. Without these two libraries, a Linux system cannot function properly.

It was discovered that the glibc dynamic linker/loader did not perform sufficient safety checks when loading dynamic shared objects (DSOs) to provide callbacks for its auditing API during the execution of privileged programs. A local attacker could use this flaw to escalate their privileges via a carefully-chosen system DSO library containing unsafe constructors. The Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures project (cve.mitre.org) has assigned the name CVE-2010-3856 to this issue.

More information about these vulnerabilities can be found in the security advisory issued by RedHat Linux:

2. Avaya System Products using a modified version of RHEL5 with affected components/packages installed:

Product: Affected Version(s): Risk Level: Actions:
Avaya Aura® Application Enablement Services 5.2, 5.2.1, 5.2.2 Low Upgrade to AES 5.2.3 or later.
Avaya Aura® Communication Manager 6.0.x Low Upgrade to CM 6.2 or later.
Avaya Aura® Conferencing Standard Edition 6.0 Low See recommended actions and mitigating factors table below. This advisory will not be addressed as no further releases are planned. It is recommended that customers migrate to one of Avaya's conferencing solutions including Avaya Aura® Conferencing 7.0 or later.
Avaya IQ 5.0, 5.1 Low Upgrade to IQ 5.2 or later.
Avaya Aura® Presence Services 6.0, 6.1, 6.1.1 Low Upgrade to PS 6.1.2 or later.
Avaya Aura® Session Manager 1.1, 5.2, 6.0.x, 6.1, 6.1.1, 6.1.2 Low Upgrade to SM 6.1.3 or later.
Avaya Aura® System Manager 5.2, 6.0.x, 6.1, 6.1.1 Low Upgrade to SMGR 6.1.2 or later.
Avaya Aura® System Platform 1.1, 6.0, 6.0.1, 6.0.2 Low Upgrade to SP 6.0.3 or later.
Avaya Voice Portal 5.0, 5.1, 5.1.1 Low Upgrade to VP 5.1.2 or later.
Avaya Communication Server 1000:
  • CS1000E
  • CS1000M
  • CS1000E/CS1000M Signaling Server
6.0, 7.x Low See recommended actions and mitigating factors table below. This advisory will not be addressed as no further releases are planned.

Recommended Actions for System Products:
Avaya strongly recommends that customers follow networking and security best practices by implementing firewalls, ACLs, physical security or other appropriate access restrictions. Though Avaya believes such restrictions should always be in place; risk to Avaya's product and the surrounding network from this potential vulnerability may be mitigated by ensuring these practices are implemented until such time as a product update is available or the recommended action is applied. Further restrictions as deemed necessary based on the customer's security policies may be required during this interim period.

Mitigating Factors:

When determining risk, Avaya takes into account many factors as outlined by Avaya's Security Vulnerability Classification Policy. The following table describes factors that mitigate the risk of specific vulnerabilities for the listed affected Avaya products:

Vulnerability Mitigating Factors
CVE-2010-3856
Avaya has rated this a Low for all products as it would require privileged account access to exploit.

3. Avaya Software-Only Products:

Avaya software-only products operate on general-purpose operating systems. Occasionally vulnerabilities may be discovered in the underlying operating system or applications that come with the operating system. These vulnerabilities often do not impact the software-only product directly but may threaten the integrity of the underlying platform.

In the case of this advisory Avaya software-only products are not affected by the vulnerability directly but the underlying Linux platform may be. Customers should determine on which Linux operating system the product was installed and then follow that vendor's guidance.

Product: Actions:
Avaya Aura® Application Enablement Services 4.x/5.x Depending on the Operating System provided by customers, the affected package may be installed on the underlying Operating System supporting the AES application.
CVLAN Depending on the Operating System provided by customers, the affected package may be installed on the underlying Operating System supporting the CVLAN application.
Avaya Integrated Management Suite (IMS) Depending on the Operating System provided by customers, the affected package may be installed on the underlying Operating System supporting the IMS application.
Avaya Aura® Presence Services Depending on the Operating System provided by customers, the affected package may be installed on the underlying Operating System supporting the PS application.
Avaya Aura® System Manager 1.0 Depending on the Operating System provided by customers, the affected package may be installed on the underlying Operating System supporting the SMGR application.
Voice Portal Depending on the Operating System provided by customers, the affected package may be installed on the underlying Operating System supporting the Voice Portal application.

Recommended Actions for Software-Only Products:
In the event that the affected package is installed, Avaya recommends that customers follow recommended actions supplied by RedHat Linux.

4. Additional Information:

Additional information may also be available via the Avaya support website and through your Avaya account representative. Please contact your Avaya product support representative, or dial 1-800-242-2121, with any questions.

5. Disclaimer:

ALL INFORMATION IS BELIEVED TO BE CORRECT AT THE TIME OF PUBLICATION AND IS PROVIDED "AS IS". AVAYA INC., ON BEHALF ITSELF AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES AND AFFILIATES (HEREINAFTER COLLECTIVELY REFERRED TO AS "AVAYA"), DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE AND FURTHERMORE, AVAYA MAKES NO REPRESENTATIONS OR WARRANTIES THAT THE STEPS RECOMMENDED WILL ELIMINATE SECURITY OR VIRUS THREATS TO CUSTOMERS' SYSTEMS. IN NO EVENT SHALL AVAYA BE LIABLE FOR ANY DAMAGES WHATSOEVER ARISING OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH THE INFORMATION OR RECOMMENDED ACTIONS PROVIDED HEREIN, INCLUDING DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, STATUTORY, CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES, LOSS OF BUSINESS PROFITS OR SPECIAL DAMAGES, EVEN IF AVAYA HAS BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES.

THE INFORMATION PROVIDED HERE DOES NOT AFFECT THE SUPPORT AGREEMENTS IN PLACE FOR AVAYA PRODUCTS. SUPPORT FOR AVAYA PRODUCTS CONTINUES TO BE EXECUTED AS PER EXISTING AGREEMENTS WITH AVAYA.

6. Revision History:

V 1.0 - November 30, 2010 - Initial Statement issued.
V 2.0 - July 19, 2011 - Changed AES, IQ, PS, SM, SMGR and SP affected versions and AES, IQ, SM, SMGR and SP actions.
V 3.0 - December 9, 2011 - Changed VP affected versions and actions.
V 4.0 - March 6, 2012 - Changed PS affected versions and actions.
V 5.0 - March 23, 2012 - Changed CM affected versions and action.
V 6.0 - June 7, 2013 - Changed CS1000 affected versions and actions.
V 7.0 - June 24, 2013 - Changed CSE actions and advisory status to final.

Send information regarding any discovered security problems with Avaya products to either the contact noted in the product's documentation or securityalerts@avaya.com.

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