util-linux and mount security update (RHSA-2005-782)

Original Release Date: January 16, 2006
Last Revised: January 16, 2006
Number: ASA-2006-014
Risk Level: Low
Advisory Version: 1.0
Advisory Status: Interim

1. Overview:

The util-linux package contains a large variety of low-level system utilities that are necessary for a Linux system to function.

The mount package contains the mount, umount, swapon and swapoff programs.

A bug was found in the way the umount command is executed by normal users. It may be possible for a user to gain elevated privileges if the user is able to execute the "umount -r" command on a mounted file system. The file system will be re-mounted only with the "readonly" flag set, clearing flags such as "nosuid" and "noexec". The Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures project (cve.mitre.org) has assigned the name CAN-200 5-2876 to this issue.

This update also fixes a hardlink bug in the script command for Red Hat Enterprise Linux 2.1. If a local user places a hard linked file named "typescript" in a directory they have write access to, the file will be overwritten if the user running script has write permissions to the destination file. The Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures project (cve.mitre.org) has assigned the name CAN-200 1-1494 to this issue.

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

2. Avaya System Products with util-linux and mount installed:

Product: Affected Version(s): Risk Level: Actions:
Avaya Intuity LX All Low See recommended actions below.  An update is being considered for a future release.
Avaya Messaging Storage Server All Low See recommended actions below.  An update is being considered for a future release.
Avaya Message Networking All Low See recommended actions below.  An update is being considered for a future release.

Recommended Actions:
Please ENTER actions for system products which use vulnerable versions of util-linux and mount.

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 vendors guidance:

4. Software-Only Products:

Product: Affected Version(s): Risk Level: Actions:
Avaya Interactive Response(IR) All None Depending on the Operating System provided by customers, the affected packages may be installed on the underlying Operating System supporting the IR application. The IR application does not require the software described in this advisory.
CVLAN all Low See recommended actions below.
Avaya Integrated Management Suite(IMS) All None Depending on the Operating System provided by customers, the affected packages may be installed on the underlying Operating System supporting the IMS application. The IMS application does not require the software described in this advisory.

Recommended Actions:
Please ENTER actions for software products which use vulnerable versions of util-linux and mount.

5. 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.

6. 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 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, 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.

7. Revision History:

V 1.0 - January 16, 2006 - Initial Statement issued.

Send information regarding any discovered security problems with Avaya products to either the contact noted in the product's documentation or [email protected].

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