kernel exploit - userland can access linux kernel memory -

["Vanaclocha Llorenç, Llorenç [INSA]" <lvanaclocha@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

Topic

Updated kernel packages are now available that fix a security
vulnerability allowing local users to gain root privileges.

Description

The Linux kernel handles the basic functions of the operating system.

A flaw in bounds checking in the do_brk() function in the Linux kernel
versions 2.4.22 and previous can allow a local attacker to gain root
privileges. This issue is known to be exploitable; an exploit has been
seen in the wild that takes advantage of this vulnerability. The Common
Vulnerabilities and Exposures project (cve.mitre.org) has assigned the name
CAN-2003-0961 to this issue.

All users of Red Hat Enterprise Linux 2.1 are advised to upgrade to these
errata packages, which contain a backported security patch that corrects
this vulnerability.

Users of Red Hat Enterprise Linux 3 should upgrade to the kernel packages
provided by RHBA-2003:308 (released on 30 October 2003), which already
contained a patch correcting this issue.

Affected Channels

 

Best Regards

 

Llorens