kernel security and bug fix update (RHSA-2014-1997)

Original Release Date: January 15, 2015
Last Revised: November 18, 2015
Number: ASA-2015-014
Risk Level: Medium
Advisory Version: 3.0
Advisory Status: Final

1. Overview:

A flaw was found in the way the Linux kernel handled GS segment register base switching when recovering from a #SS (stack segment) fault on an erroneous return to user space. A local, unprivileged user could use this flaw to escalate their privileges on the system. The Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures project (cve.mitre.org) has assigned the name CVE-2014-9322 to this issue.

A flaw was found in the way the Linux kernel's SCTP implementation handled malformed or duplicate Address Configuration Change Chunks (ASCONF). A remote attacker could use either of these flaws to crash the system. The Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures project (cve.mitre.org) has assigned the names CVE-2014-3673 and CVE-2014-3687 to these issues.

A flaw was found in the way the Linux kernel's SCTP implementation handled the association's output queue. A remote attacker could send specially crafted packets that would cause the system to use an excessive amount of memory, leading to a denial of service. The Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures project (cve.mitre.org) has assigned the name CVE-2014-3688 to this issue.

A stack overflow flaw caused by infinite recursion was found in the way the Linux kernel's UDF file system implementation processed indirect ICBs. An attacker with physical access to the system could use a specially crafted UDF image to crash the system. The Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures project (cve.mitre.org) has assigned the name CVE-2014-6410 to this issue.

It was found that the Linux kernel's networking implementation did not correctly handle the setting of the keepalive socket option on raw sockets. A local user able to create a raw socket could use this flaw to crash the system. The Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures project (cve.mitre.org) has assigned the name CVE-2012-6657 to this issue.

It was found that the parse_rock_ridge_inode_internal() function of the Linux kernel's ISOFS implementation did not correctly check relocated directories when processing Rock Ridge child link (CL) tags. An attacker with physical access to the system could use a specially crafted ISO image to crash the system or, potentially, escalate their privileges on the system. The Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures project (cve.mitre.org) has assigned the names CVE-2014-5471 and CVE-2014-5472 to these issues.

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 RHEL6 with affected packages installed:

Product: Affected Version(s): Risk Level: Actions:
Avaya CMS R17 thru R17 R4 Medium Upgrade to R17 R5 or R18, or later.
Avaya Aura® Collaboration Environment 2.x thru 3.0 SP3 Medium Upgrade to 3.0 SP4 or later.
Avaya Aura® Conferencing 8.0 including SP1 Medium Upgrade to 8.0 SP2 or later.
Avaya Aura® Experience Portal 6.0 thru 7.0.2 Medium For 6.0.x, upgrade to 7.0.2 and Avaya Linux for 7.0.2, and install Linux Patch 2015-10 or later.
For 7.0 to 7.0.2, install Linux Patch 2015-10 or later.
Avaya IP Office Server Edition 8.1 thru 9.1.3 Medium Upgrade to 9.1.4 or later.
Avaya IP Office Application Server 9.0 thru 9.1.3 Medium Upgrade to 9.1.4 or later.
Avaya one-X® Client Enablement Services 6.2 thru 6.2 SP3 Medium Upgrade to 6.2 SP4 or later.
Avaya Aura® Session Manager 6.3.x Low Upgrade to 7.0 or later.

Recommended Actions for System Products:
Avaya strongly recommends following 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 the System Product operating system or application should not be modified 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-2012-6657
CVE-2014-9322
These are a Low risk for Session Manager because exploit requires non-standard authenticated local user interaction and local users have privileges which would not provide additional capability.
These are a Medium risk for all other listed products because of the potential for an authenticated local user to escalate privileges or crash the server.
CVE-2014-3673
CVE-2014-3687
CVE-2014-3688
These are a Low risk for all listed products as SCTP is not used by default.
CVE-2014-5471
CVE-2014-5472
CVE-2014-6410
These are a Low risk for Session Manager because exploit requires non-standard authenticated local user interaction and local users have privileges which would not provide additional capability.
These are a Medium risk for all other listed products because of the potential for an authenticated local user with physical access to the server to escalate privileges or crash the server.

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® Experience Portal Depending on the Operating System installed, the affected package may be installed on the underlying Operating System supporting the EP application.

Recommended Actions for Software-Only Products:
In the event that the affected package is installed, Avaya recommends following 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 - January 15, 2015 - Initial Statement issued.
V 2.0 - October 15, 2015 - Updated all product affected versions and actions, and set the advisory status to final.
V 3.0 - November 18, 2015 - Updated CMS affected versions and actions.

Avaya customers or Business Partners should report any security issues found with Avaya products via the standard support process.
Independent security researchers can contact Avaya at [email protected].

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