DSA 470-1: New Linux 2.4.17 packages fix several local root exploits

An updated Kernel 2.4.17 package has been released for Debian GNU/Linux

---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Debian Security Advisory DSA 470-1 security@debian.org
http://www.debian.org/security/ Martin Schulze
April 1st, 2004 http://www.debian.org/security/faq
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Package : kernel-image-2.4.17-hppa
Vulnerability : several vulnerabilities
Problem-Type : local
Debian-specific: no
CVE ID : CAN-2003-0961 CAN-2003-0985 CAN-2004-0077

Several local root exploits have been discovered recently in the Linux kernel. This security advisory updates the mips kernel 2.4.19 for Debian GNU/Linux. The Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures project identifies the following problems that are fixed with this update:

CAN-2003-0961:

An integer overflow in brk() system call (do_brk() function) forLinux allows a local attacker to gain root privileges. Fixed upstream in Linux 2.4.23.

CAN-2003-0985:

Paul Starzetz discovered a flaw in bounds checking in mremap() in the Linux kernel (present in version 2.4.x and 2.6.x) which may allow a local attacker to gain root privileges. Version 2.2 is not affected by this bug. Fixed upstream in Linux 2.4.24.

CAN-2004-0077:

Paul Starzetz and Wojciech Purczynski of isec.pl discovered a critical security vulnerability in the memory management code of Linux inside the mremap(2) system call. Due to missing function return value check of internal functions a local attacker can gain root privileges. Fixed upstream in Linux 2.4.25 and 2.6.3.

For the stable distribution (woody) these problems have been fixed in version 32.3 of kernel-image-2.4.17-hppa.

For the unstable distribution (sid) these problems have been fixed in version 2.4.25-1 of kernel-image-2.4.25-hppa.

We recommend that you upgrade your Linux kernel packages immediately.

Upgrade Instructions
---------------------

wget url
will fetch the file for you
dpkg -i file.deb
will install the referenced file.

If you are using the apt-get package manager, use the line for sources.list as given below:

apt-get update
will update the internal database
apt-get upgrade
will install corrected packages

You may use an automated update by adding the resources from the footer to the proper configuration.


Debian GNU/Linux 3.0 alias woody
---------------------------------

Source archives:

http://security.debian.org/pool/updates/main/k/kernel-image-2.4.17-hppa/kernel-image-2.4.17-hppa_32.3.dsc
Size/MD5 checksum: 713 f5b7956a75870aaff51ccb52c96a0ab2
http://security.debian.org/pool/updates/main/k/kernel-image-2.4.17-hppa/kernel-image-2.4.17-hppa_32.3.tar.gz
Size/MD5 checksum: 29958048 44cb813807b9b1c45984fadfc18d4ba1

Architecture independent components:

http://security.debian.org/pool/updates/main/k/kernel-image-2.4.17-hppa/kernel-source-2.4.17-hppa_32.3_all.deb
Size/MD5 checksum: 24109698 cefc1a3ebfce0d30f97b556ed62674d4

HP Precision architecture:

http://security.debian.org/pool/updates/main/k/kernel-image-2.4.17-hppa/kernel-headers-2.4.17-hppa_32.3_hppa.deb
Size/MD5 checksum: 3531296 605f593d9648fd2ab1aa2d6f106263af
http://security.debian.org/pool/updates/main/k/kernel-image-2.4.17-hppa/kernel-image-2.4.17-32_32.3_hppa.deb
Size/MD5 checksum: 2737992 793396152e7dea3f9a1ea8ea10c4dbe7
http://security.debian.org/pool/updates/main/k/kernel-image-2.4.17-hppa/kernel-image-2.4.17-32-smp_32.3_hppa.deb
Size/MD5 checksum: 2870174 2f2df476a902378a9efa96a79367eed2
http://security.debian.org/pool/updates/main/k/kernel-image-2.4.17-hppa/kernel-image-2.4.17-64_32.3_hppa.deb
Size/MD5 checksum: 3024282 1a687ccbedbba298a7e98ba7d2b20650
http://security.debian.org/pool/updates/main/k/kernel-image-2.4.17-hppa/kernel-image-2.4.17-64-smp_32.3_hppa.deb
Size/MD5 checksum: 3165702 795b734b1e17a75a76c40af8f49e6ec7

These files will probably be moved into the stable distribution on its next revision.