ASA-2006-249 (RHSA-2006-0689)

kernel security update (RHSA-2006-0689)

Original Release Date: November 16, 2006
Last Revised: November 16, 2006
Number: ASA-2006-249
Risk Level: Low
Advisory Version: 1.0
Advisory Status: Interim

1. Overview:

The Linux kernel manages the communication between software and hardware as well as the hardware resources of a computer running the Linux operating system.

Red Hat has issued an updated version of the kernel packages for Enterprise Linux 4. Below is a list of the security issues fixed in the update as reported by Red Hat:

a flaw in the SCTP support that allowed a local user to cause a denial of service (crash) with a specific SO_LINGER value.
a flaw in the hugepage table support that allowed a local user to cause a denial of service (crash).
a flaw in the hugepage table support that allowed a local user to cause a denial of service (crash).
a flaw in the mprotect system call that allowed setting write permission for a read-only attachment of shared memory.
a flaw in HID0[31] (en_attn) register handling on PowerPC 970 systems that allowed a local user to cause a denial of service. (crash)
a flaw in the perfmon support of Itanium systems that allowed a local user to cause a denial of service by consuming all file descriptors.
a flaw in the ATM subsystem. On systems with installed ATM hardware and configured ATM support, a remote user could cause a denial of service (panic) by accessing socket buffers memory after freeing them.
a flaw in the DVB subsystem. On systems with installed DVB hardware and configured DVB support, a remote user could cause a denial of service (panic) by sending a ULE SNDU packet with length of 0.
an information leak in the network subsystem that possibly allowed a local user to read sensitive data from kernel memory.

The Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures project (cve.mitre.org) has assigned the names CVE-2006-4535, CVE-2005-4811, CVE-2006-2071, CVE-2006-4093, CVE-2006-3741, CVE-2006-4997, CVE-2006-4623, and CVE-2006-0039 to these issues.

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

https://rhn.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2006-0689.html

2. Avaya System Products with kernel installed:

Product:	Affected Version(s):	Risk Level:	Actions:
Avaya S87XX/S8500/S8300	CM 2.x and 3.x	Low	See recommended actions below. This issue will be addressed in accordance with Avaya's Product Security Vulnerability Response Policy
Avaya Messaging Storage Server	MSS 3.0	Low	See recommended actions below. This issue will be addressed in accordance with Avaya's Product Security Vulnerability Response Policy
Avaya CCS/SES	2.x and 3.x	Low	See recommended actions below. This issue will be addressed in accordance with Avaya's Product Security Vulnerability Response Policy

Recommended Actions:
For all system products which use vulnerable versions of the kernel, Avaya recommends that customers restrict local and network access to the server. This restriction should be enforced through the use of physical security, firewalls, ACLs, VPNs, and other generally-accepted networking practices until such time as an update becomes available and can be installed.

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 vulnerabilities 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:
CVLAN	All	None	Depending on the Operating System provided by customers, the affected package may be installed on the underlying Operating System supporting the CVLAN application. The CVLAN application does not require the software described in this advisory.
Avaya Integrated Management Suite(IMS)	All	None	Depending on the Operating System provided by customers, the affected package 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:
Avaya recommends that customers follow recommended actions supplied by RedHat Linux.

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 - November 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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