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SuSE-SA:2003:049: Linux Kernel

high Nessus Plugin ID 13817

Synopsis

The remote host is missing a vendor-supplied security patch

Description

The remote host is missing the patch for the advisory SuSE-SA:2003:049 (Linux Kernel).


This security update fixes a serious vulnerability in the Linux kernel. A missing bounds check in the brk() system call allowed processes to request memory beyond the maximum size allowed for tasks, causing kernel memory to be mapped into the process' address space.
This allowed local attackers to obtain super user privileges.

An exploit for this vulnerability is circulating in the wild, and has been used to compromise OpenSource development servers.

There is no temporary workaround for this bug.

This update also fixes several other security issues in the kernel

- race condition with files opened via O_DIRECT which could be exploited to read disk blocks randomly. This could include blocks of previously deleted files with sensitive content.
- don't allow users to send signals to kmod
- when reading the RTC, don't leak kernel stack data to user space

Solution

http://www.suse.de/security/2003_049_kernel.html

Plugin Details

Severity: High

ID: 13817

File Name: suse_SA_2003_049.nasl

Version: 1.16

Agent: unix

Published: 7/25/2004

Updated: 1/14/2021

Supported Sensors: Nessus Agent, Nessus

Risk Information

VPR

Risk Factor: Medium

Score: 6.7

CVSS v2

Risk Factor: High

Base Score: 7.2

Temporal Score: 6

Vector: CVSS2#AV:L/AC:L/Au:N/C:C/I:C/A:C

Vulnerability Information

Required KB Items: Host/SuSE/rpm-list

Exploit Available: true

Exploit Ease: Exploits are available

Reference Information

CVE: CVE-2003-0961

BID: 9138