RHBA-2012:0189 - Bug Fix Advisory

Topic

An updated microcode_ctl package that fixes two bugs and adds one enhancement is
now available for Red Hat Enterprise Linux 5.

Description

The microcode_ctl package provides microcode updates for Intel and AMD
processors.

This update fixes the following bugs:

• A previous update introduced a memory leak when loading the updated microcode

into memory before conversion of the microcode into a format suitable for the
CPU. This update includes a corrected patch that de-allocates the memory
correctly, ensuring memory does not leak. (BZ#690414)

• Previously, the command line definitions from the spec file specified an

incorrect path (/etc/firmware/microcode.dat) to the microcode firmware. As a
consequence, updating microcode_ctl failed with the following error message:

microcode_ctl: cannot open source file '/lib/firmware/microcode.dat'

This update modifies the firmware path to the correct
/lib/firmware/microcode.dat, and microcode_ctl now updates correctly.
(BZ#760323)

In addition, this update adds the following enhancement:

• The Intel CPU microcode file has been updated to version 20111110. This is the

most recent version of the microcode available from Intel. (BZ#713653)

Note that the system must be rebooted in order for these changes to take effect.

All users of microcode_ctl are advised to upgrade to this updated package, which
fixes these bugs and adds this enhancement.

Solution

Before applying this update, make sure that all previously-released errata
relevant to your system have been applied.

This update is available via Red Hat Network. Details on how to use the Red Hat
Network to apply this update are available at
https://access.redhat.com/kb/docs/DOC-11259

Affected Products

• Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server 5 x86_64
• Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server 5 i386
• Red Hat Enterprise Linux Workstation 5 x86_64
• Red Hat Enterprise Linux Workstation 5 i386
• Red Hat Enterprise Linux Desktop 5 x86_64
• Red Hat Enterprise Linux Desktop 5 i386
• Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server from RHUI 5 x86_64
• Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server from RHUI 5 i386

Fixes

• BZ - 690414 - memory leak in microcode_ctl.patch

CVEs

(none)

References

(none)