Linux kernel sys_utimensat() denial of service

linux-kernel-sysutimensat-dos (42342)

Low Risk

Description:

Linux kernel is vulnerable to a denial of service, caused by improper permissions checking by the sys_utimensat() function. By invoking the function with both times set to UTIME_NOW or UTIME_NOW and UTIME_OMIT, a local attacker could exploit this vulnerability to cause the kernel to crash.

Platforms Affected:

• Canonical, Ubuntu 6.06 LTS
• Canonical, Ubuntu 7.04
• Canonical, Ubuntu 7.10
• Canonical, Ubuntu 8.04 LTS
• Linux, Kernel 2.6.22
• Linux, Kernel 2.6.22.1
• Linux, Kernel 2.6.22.10
• Linux, Kernel 2.6.22.11
• Linux, Kernel 2.6.22.12
• Linux, Kernel 2.6.22.13
• Linux, Kernel 2.6.22.14
• Linux, Kernel 2.6.22.15
• Linux, Kernel 2.6.22.16
• Linux, Kernel 2.6.22.17
• Linux, Kernel 2.6.22.18
• Linux, Kernel 2.6.22.19
• Linux, Kernel 2.6.22.2
• Linux, Kernel 2.6.22.20
• Linux, Kernel 2.6.22.21
• Linux, Kernel 2.6.22.3
• Linux, Kernel 2.6.22.4
• Linux, Kernel 2.6.22.5
• Linux, Kernel 2.6.22.6
• Linux, Kernel 2.6.22.7
• Linux, Kernel 2.6.22.8
• Linux, Kernel 2.6.22.9
• Linux, Kernel 2.6.23
• Linux, Kernel 2.6.23.2
• Linux, Kernel 2.6.23.5
• Linux, Kernel 2.6.23.6
• Linux, Kernel 2.6.23.7
• Linux, Kernel 2.6.24 rc2
• Linux, Kernel 2.6.24 rc3
• MandrakeSoft, Mandrake Linux 2008.1 X86_64
• MandrakeSoft, Mandrake Linux 2008.1
• Novell, OpenSUSE 10.2
• Novell, OpenSUSE 10.3
• RedHat, Enterprise Linux 4 WS
• RedHat, Linux Advanced Workstation 2.1 Itanium

Remedy:

Upgrade to the latest version of Linux kernel (2.6.25.3 or later), available from the Linux Kernel Archives Web site. See References.

Consequences:

Denial of Service

References:

• The Linux Kernel Archives Web site, The Linux Kernel Archives at http://www.kernel.org/.
• The Linux Kernel Archives Web site, ChangeLog-2.6.25.3 at http://kernel.org/pub/linux/kernel/v2.6/ChangeLog-2.6.25.3.
• BID-29134: Linux Kernel 'sys_utimensat' Local Denial of Service Vulnerability
• CVE-2008-2148: The utimensat system call (sys_utimensat) in Linux kernel 2.6.22 and other versions before 2.6.25.3 does not check file permissions when certain UTIME_NOW and UTIME_OMIT combinations are used, which allows local users to modify file times of arbitrary files, possibly leading to a denial of service.
• FrSIRT/ADV-2008-1543: Linux Kernel Denial of Service and Security Bypass Vulnerabilities
• MDVSA-2008:167: kernel
• RHSA-2008-0585: Important: kernel security and bug fix update
• SA30241: Linux Kernel Multiple Vulnerabilities
• SUSE-SA:2008:030: Linux kernel security update
• USN-625-1: Linux kernel vulnerabilities

Reported:

May 09, 2008

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