Red Hat Enterprise Linux 4.9 kernel security and bug fix update (RHSA-2011-0263)

Original Release Date: April 1, 2011
Last Revised: March 19, 2013
Number: ASA-2011-080
Risk Level: Low
Advisory Version: 6.0
Advisory Status: Final

1. Overview:

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

This update fixes the following security issues:

* A buffer overflow flaw was found in the load_mixer_volumes() function in the Linux kernel's Open Sound System (OSS) sound driver. On 64-bit PowerPC systems, a local, unprivileged user could use this flaw to cause a denial of service or escalate their privileges. The Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures project (cve.mitre.org) has assigned the name CVE-2010-4527 to this issue.

* A missing boundary check was found in the dvb_ca_ioctl() function in the Linux kernel's av7110 module. On systems that use old DVB cards that require the av7110 module, a local, unprivileged user could use this flaw to cause a denial of service or escalate their privileges. The Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures project (cve.mitre.org) has assigned the name CVE-2011-0521 to this issue

* A missing initialization flaw was found in the ethtool_get_regs() function in the Linux kernel's ethtool IOCTL handler. A local user who has the CAP_NET_ADMIN capability could use this flaw to cause an information leak. The Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures project (cve.mitre.org) has assigned the name CVE-2010-4655 to this issue.

More information about these vulnerabilities can be found in the security advisory issued by Red Hat:

2. Avaya System Products using a modified version of RHEL4 with affected components/packages installed:
Product: Affected Version(s): Risk Level: Actions:
Avaya Aura™ Application Enablement Services 4.2.x Low Upgrade to 5.2.4 or later.
Avaya Aura™ Communication Manager 5.2 and earlier Low Upgrade to 5.2.1 or later.
Avaya Meeting Exchange 5.x Low Upgrade to 6.2 or later.
Avaya Message Networking 3.1, 5.2 thru 5.2.3 Low Upgrade to 5.2.4 or later.
Avaya Messaging Storage Server 4.x, 5.2 thru 5.2.8 Low Upgrade to 5.2.9 or later.
Avaya Aura™ SIP Enablement Services 4.x, 5.x Low Upgrade to 5.2.1 or later.
Avaya Proactive Contact 4.x Low Upgrade to 5.1 or later.
Avaya Voice Portal 4.x Low Upgrade to 5.1 SP1 or later

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 products and the surrounding network from this potential vulnerability may be mitigated by ensuring these practices are implemented until such time as an Avaya provided product update or the recommended Avaya action is applied. Further restrictions as deemed necessary based on the customer's security policies may be required during this interim period, but customers should not modify the System Product operating system or application unless the change is approved by Avaya. Making changes that are not approved may void the Avaya product service contract.

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 affected Avaya products:

Vulnerability Mitigating Factors
CVE-2010-4655
CVE-2011-0521
This is a Low for AES, CM, ME, MN, MSS, SES, PC and VP since they do not use/support the hardware or local access is required.
CVE-2010-4527
This is a None for all products since they do not support the affected hardware.

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 Red Hat regarding their Enterprise 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 - April 1, 2011 - Initial Statement issued.
V 2.0 - April 4, 2011 - Updated SES actions
V 3.0 - April 7, 2011 - Updated MN, MSS and PC risk and mtigating factors.
V 4.0 - January 31, 2013 - Updated AES, MN, MSS affected versions and actions.
V 5.0 - March 14, 2013 - Updated MX actions and removed PC and advisory status to final.
V 5.0 - March 19, 2013 - Updated AES versions and re-added PC 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 [email protected].

Linux® is the registered trademark of Linus Torvalds in the U.S. and other countries.

© 2011 Avaya Inc. All Rights Reserved. All trademarks identifying Avaya products by the ® or ™ are registered trademarks or trademarks, respectively, of Avaya Inc. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.