Updated kernel packages that fix various security issues and several bugs are now available for Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6.

The Red Hat Security Response Team has rated this update as having moderate security impact. Common Vulnerability Scoring System (CVSS) base scores, which give detailed severity ratings, are available for each vulnerability from the CVE links in the References section.

The kernel packages contain the Linux kernel, the core of any Linux operating system.

This update fixes the following security issues :

* A buffer overflow flaw was found in the way the Linux kernel's XFS file system implementation handled links with overly long path names.
A local, unprivileged user could use this flaw to cause a denial of service or escalate their privileges by mounting a specially crafted disk. (CVE-2011-4077, Moderate)

* Flaws in ghash_update() and ghash_final() could allow a local, unprivileged user to cause a denial of service. (CVE-2011-4081, Moderate)

* A flaw was found in the Linux kernel's Journaling Block Device (JBD). A local, unprivileged user could use this flaw to crash the system by mounting a specially crafted ext3 or ext4 disk.
(CVE-2011-4132, Moderate)

* It was found that the kvm_vm_ioctl_assign_device() function in the KVM (Kernel-based Virtual Machine) subsystem of a Linux kernel did not check if the user requesting device assignment was privileged or not.
A local, unprivileged user on the host could assign unused PCI devices, or even devices that were in use and whose resources were not properly claimed by the respective drivers, which could result in the host crashing. (CVE-2011-4347, Moderate)

* Two flaws were found in the way the Linux kernel's __sys_sendmsg() function, when invoked via the sendmmsg() system call, accessed user-space memory. A local, unprivileged user could use these flaws to cause a denial of service. (CVE-2011-4594, Moderate)

* The RHSA-2011:1530 kernel update introduced an integer overflow flaw in the Linux kernel. On PowerPC systems, a local, unprivileged user could use this flaw to cause a denial of service. (CVE-2011-4611, Moderate)

* A flaw was found in the way the KVM subsystem of a Linux kernel handled PIT (Programmable Interval Timer) IRQs (interrupt requests) when there was no virtual interrupt controller set up. A local, unprivileged user on the host could force this situation to occur, resulting in the host crashing. (CVE-2011-4622, Moderate)

* A flaw was found in the way the Linux kernel's XFS file system implementation handled on-disk Access Control Lists (ACLs). A local, unprivileged user could use this flaw to cause a denial of service or escalate their privileges by mounting a specially crafted disk.
(CVE-2012-0038, Moderate)

* A flaw was found in the way the Linux kernel's KVM hypervisor implementation emulated the syscall instruction for 32-bit guests. An unprivileged guest user could trigger this flaw to crash the guest.
(CVE-2012-0045, Moderate)

* A divide-by-zero flaw was found in the Linux kernel's igmp_heard_query() function. An attacker able to send certain IGMP (Internet Group Management Protocol) packets to a target system could use this flaw to cause a denial of service. (CVE-2012-0207, Moderate)

Red Hat would like to thank Nick Bowler for reporting CVE-2011-4081;
Sasha Levin for reporting CVE-2011-4347; Tetsuo Handa for reporting CVE-2011-4594; Maynard Johnson for reporting CVE-2011-4611; Wang Xi for reporting CVE-2012-0038; Stephan Barwolf for reporting CVE-2012-0045; and Simon McVittie for reporting CVE-2012-0207.
Upstream acknowledges Mathieu Desnoyers as the original reporter of CVE-2011-4594.

This update also fixes several bugs. Documentation for these changes will be available shortly from the Technical Notes document linked to in the References section.

Users should upgrade to these updated packages, which contain backported patches to correct these issues, and fix the bugs noted in the Technical Notes. The system must be rebooted for this update to take effect.

The remote Redhat Enterprise Linux 6 host has packages installed that are affected by multiple vulnerabilities as referenced in the RHSA-2012:0350 advisory.

    The kernel packages contain the Linux kernel, the core of any Linux     operating system.

    This update fixes the following security issues:

    * A buffer overflow flaw was found in the way the Linux kernel's XFS file     system implementation handled links with overly long path names. A local,     unprivileged user could use this flaw to cause a denial of service or     escalate their privileges by mounting a specially-crafted disk.
    (CVE-2011-4077, Moderate)

    * Flaws in ghash_update() and ghash_final() could allow a local,     unprivileged user to cause a denial of service. (CVE-2011-4081, Moderate)

    * A flaw was found in the Linux kernel's Journaling Block Device (JBD). A     local, unprivileged user could use this flaw to crash the system by     mounting a specially-crafted ext3 or ext4 disk. (CVE-2011-4132, Moderate)

    * It was found that the kvm_vm_ioctl_assign_device() function in the KVM     (Kernel-based Virtual Machine) subsystem of a Linux kernel did not check if     the user requesting device assignment was privileged or not. A local,     unprivileged user on the host could assign unused PCI devices, or even     devices that were in use and whose resources were not properly claimed by     the respective drivers, which could result in the host crashing.
    (CVE-2011-4347, Moderate)

    * Two flaws were found in the way the Linux kernel's __sys_sendmsg()     function, when invoked via the sendmmsg() system call, accessed user-space     memory. A local, unprivileged user could use these flaws to cause a denial     of service. (CVE-2011-4594, Moderate)

    * The RHSA-2011:1530 kernel update introduced an integer overflow flaw in     the Linux kernel. On PowerPC systems, a local, unprivileged user could use     this flaw to cause a denial of service. (CVE-2011-4611, Moderate)

    * A flaw was found in the way the KVM subsystem of a Linux kernel handled     PIT (Programmable Interval Timer) IRQs (interrupt requests) when there was     no virtual interrupt controller set up. A local, unprivileged user on the     host could force this situation to occur, resulting in the host crashing.
    (CVE-2011-4622, Moderate)

    * A flaw was found in the way the Linux kernel's XFS file system     implementation handled on-disk Access Control Lists (ACLs). A local,     unprivileged user could use this flaw to cause a denial of service or     escalate their privileges by mounting a specially-crafted disk.
    (CVE-2012-0038, Moderate)

    * A flaw was found in the way the Linux kernel's KVM hypervisor     implementation emulated the syscall instruction for 32-bit guests. An     unprivileged guest user could trigger this flaw to crash the guest.
    (CVE-2012-0045, Moderate)

    * A divide-by-zero flaw was found in the Linux kernel's igmp_heard_query()     function. An attacker able to send certain IGMP (Internet Group Management     Protocol) packets to a target system could use this flaw to cause a denial     of service. (CVE-2012-0207, Moderate)

    Red Hat would like to thank Nick Bowler for reporting CVE-2011-4081; Sasha     Levin for reporting CVE-2011-4347; Tetsuo Handa for reporting     CVE-2011-4594; Maynard Johnson for reporting CVE-2011-4611; Wang Xi for     reporting CVE-2012-0038; Stephan Brwolf for reporting CVE-2012-0045; and     Simon McVittie for reporting CVE-2012-0207. Upstream acknowledges Mathieu     Desnoyers as the original reporter of CVE-2011-4594.

    This update also fixes several bugs. Documentation for these changes will     be available shortly from the Technical Notes document linked to in the     References section.

    Users should upgrade to these updated packages, which contain backported     patches to correct these issues, and fix the bugs noted in the Technical     Notes. The system must be rebooted for this update to take effect.

Tenable has extracted the preceding description block directly from the Red Hat Enterprise Linux security advisory.

Note that Nessus has not tested for these issues but has instead relied only on the application's self-reported version number.

A buffer overflow flaw was found in the way the Linux kernel's XFS file system implementation handled links with overly long path names.
A local, unprivileged user could use this flaw to cause a denial of service or escalate their privileges by mounting a specially crafted disk. (CVE-2011-4077 , Moderate)

Flaws in ghash_update() and ghash_final() could allow a local, unprivileged user to cause a denial of service. (CVE-2011-4081 , Moderate)

A flaw was found in the Linux kernel's Journaling Block Device (JBD).
A local, unprivileged user could use this flaw to crash the system by mounting a specially crafted ext3 or ext4 disk. (CVE-2011-4132 , Moderate)

It was found that the kvm_vm_ioctl_assign_device() function in the KVM (Kernel-based Virtual Machine) subsystem of a Linux kernel did not check if the user requesting device assignment was privileged or not.
A local, unprivileged user on the host could assign unused PCI devices, or even devices that were in use and whose resources were not properly claimed by the respective drivers, which could result in the host crashing. (CVE-2011-4347 , Moderate)

Two flaws were found in the way the Linux kernel's __sys_sendmsg() function, when invoked via the sendmmsg() system call, accessed user-space memory. A local, unprivileged user could use these flaws to cause a denial of service. (CVE-2011-4594 , Moderate)

A previous update introduced an integer overflow flaw in the Linux kernel. On PowerPC systems, a local, unprivileged user could use this flaw to cause a denial of service. (CVE-2011-4611 , Moderate)

A flaw was found in the way the KVM subsystem of a Linux kernel handled PIT (Programmable Interval Timer) IRQs (interrupt requests) when there was no virtual interrupt controller set up. A local, unprivileged user on the host could force this situation to occur, resulting in the host crashing. (CVE-2011-4622 , Moderate)

A flaw was found in the way the Linux kernel's XFS file system implementation handled on-disk Access Control Lists (ACLs). A local, unprivileged user could use this flaw to cause a denial of service or escalate their privileges by mounting a specially crafted disk.
(CVE-2012-0038 , Moderate)

A flaw was found in the way the Linux kernel's KVM hypervisor implementation emulated the syscall instruction for 32-bit guests. An unprivileged guest user could trigger this flaw to crash the guest.
(CVE-2012-0045 , Moderate)

A divide-by-zero flaw was found in the Linux kernel's igmp_heard_query() function. An attacker able to send certain IGMP (Internet Group Management Protocol) packets to a target system could use this flaw to cause a denial of service. (CVE-2012-0207 , Moderate)

The kernel packages contain the Linux kernel, the core of any Linux operating system.

This update fixes the following security issues :

  - A buffer overflow flaw was found in the way the Linux     kernel's XFS file system implementation handled links     with overly long path names. A local, unprivileged user     could use this flaw to cause a denial of service or     escalate their privileges by mounting a specially     crafted disk. (CVE-2011-4077, Moderate)

  - Flaws in ghash_update() and ghash_final() could allow a     local, unprivileged user to cause a denial of service.
    (CVE-2011-4081, Moderate)

  - A flaw was found in the Linux kernel's Journaling Block     Device (JBD). A local, unprivileged user could use this     flaw to crash the system by mounting a specially crafted     ext3 or ext4 disk. (CVE-2011-4132, Moderate)

  - It was found that the kvm_vm_ioctl_assign_device()     function in the KVM (Kernel-based Virtual Machine)     subsystem of a Linux kernel did not check if the user     requesting device assignment was privileged or not. A     local, unprivileged user on the host could assign unused     PCI devices, or even devices that were in use and whose     resources were not properly claimed by the respective     drivers, which could result in the host crashing.
    (CVE-2011-4347, Moderate)

  - Two flaws were found in the way the Linux kernel's
    __sys_sendmsg() function, when invoked via the     sendmmsg() system call, accessed user-space memory. A     local, unprivileged user could use these flaws to cause     a denial of service. (CVE-2011-4594, Moderate)

  - A flaw was found in the way the KVM subsystem of a Linux     kernel handled PIT (Programmable Interval Timer) IRQs     (interrupt requests) when there was no virtual interrupt     controller set up. A local, unprivileged user on the     host could force this situation to occur, resulting in     the host crashing. (CVE-2011-4622, Moderate)

  - A flaw was found in the way the Linux kernel's XFS file     system implementation handled on-disk Access Control     Lists (ACLs). A local, unprivileged user could use this     flaw to cause a denial of service or escalate their     privileges by mounting a specially crafted disk.
    (CVE-2012-0038, Moderate)

  - A flaw was found in the way the Linux kernel's KVM     hypervisor implementation emulated the syscall     instruction for 32-bit guests. An unprivileged guest     user could trigger this flaw to crash the guest.
    (CVE-2012-0045, Moderate)

  - A divide-by-zero flaw was found in the Linux kernel's     igmp_heard_query() function. An attacker able to send     certain IGMP (Internet Group Management Protocol)     packets to a target system could use this flaw to cause     a denial of service. (CVE-2012-0207, Moderate)

Users should upgrade to these updated packages, which contain backported patches to correct these issues. The system must be rebooted for this update to take effect.

The remote Oracle Linux 6 host has packages installed that are affected by multiple vulnerabilities as referenced in the ELSA-2012-0350 advisory.

    - [fs] xfs: Fix missing xfs_iunlock() on error recovery path in xfs_readlink() (Carlos Maiolino) [749161     694702] {CVE-2011-4077}
    - [fs] xfs: Fix memory corruption in xfs_readlink (Carlos Maiolino) [749161 694702] {CVE-2011-4077}
    - [net] igmp: Avoid zero delay when receiving odd mixture of IGMP queries (Jiri Pirko) [772870 772871]     {CVE-2012-0207}
    - [fs] xfs: validate acl count (Eric Sandeen) [773282 773283] {CVE-2012-0038}
    - [virt] kvm: x86: fix missing checks in syscall emulation (Marcelo Tosatti) [773390 773391]     {CVE-2012-0045}
    - [virt] kvm: x86: extend 'struct x86_emulate_ops' with 'get_cpuid' (Marcelo Tosatti) [773390 773391]     {CVE-2012-0045}
    - [kernel] crypto: ghash - Avoid null pointer dereference if no key is set (Jiri Benc) [749481 749482]     {CVE-2011-4081}
    - [fs] jbd2: validate sb->s_first in journal_get_superblock() (Eryu Guan) [753344 693981] {CVE-2011-4132}
    - [net] fix unsafe pointer access in sendmmsg (Jiri Benc) [761668 760798] {CVE-2011-4594}
    - [perf] powerpc: Handle events that raise an exception without overflowing (Steve Best) [767917 755737]     {CVE-2011-4611}
    - [virt] x86: Prevent starting PIT timers in the absence of irqchip support (Marcelo Tosatti) [769634     769550] {CVE-2011-4622}
    - [virt] KVM: Device assignment permission checks (Alex Williamson) [756092 756093] {CVE-2011-4347}
    - [virt] KVM: Remove ability to assign a device without iommu support (Alex Williamson) [756092 756093]     {CVE-2011-4347}

Tenable has extracted the preceding description block directly from the Oracle Linux security advisory.

Note that Nessus has not tested for these issues but has instead relied only on the application's self-reported version number.

Peter Huewe discovered an information leak in the handling of reading security-related TPM data. A local, unprivileged user could read the results of a previous TPM command. (CVE-2011-1162)

Vasiliy Kulikov discovered that taskstats did not enforce access restrictions. A local attacker could exploit this to read certain information, leading to a loss of privacy. (CVE-2011-2494)

Mathieu Desnoyers discovered that the kernel sockets implementation incorrectly dereferenced user pointers. A local attacker could possibly exploit this to crash the system. (CVE-2011-4594).

Note that Tenable Network Security has extracted the preceding description block directly from the Ubuntu security advisory. Tenable has attempted to automatically clean and format it as much as possible without introducing additional issues.

The remote CentOS system is missing a security update which has been documented in Red Hat advisory RHSA-2012-0350.

ID	Name	Product	Family	Published	Updated	Severity
58275	CentOS 6 : kernel (CESA-2012:0350)	Nessus	CentOS Local Security Checks	3/8/2012	1/4/2021	high
58261	RHEL 6 : kernel (RHSA-2012:0350)	Nessus	Red Hat Local Security Checks	3/7/2012	11/4/2024	high
69662	Amazon Linux AMI : kernel (ALAS-2012-55)	Nessus	Amazon Linux Local Security Checks	9/4/2013	7/31/2020	high
61277	Scientific Linux Security Update : kernel on SL6.x i386/x86_64 (20120306)	Nessus	Scientific Linux Local Security Checks	8/1/2012	1/14/2021	high
68491	Oracle Linux 6 : kernel (ELSA-2012-0350)	Nessus	Oracle Linux Local Security Checks	7/12/2013	10/22/2024	high
56917	Ubuntu 11.10 : linux vulnerability (USN-1275-1)	Nessus	Ubuntu Local Security Checks	11/22/2011	9/19/2019	medium
801513	CentOS RHSA-2012-0350 Security Check	Log Correlation Engine	Generic			high

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