RHBA-2012:0391 - Bug Fix Advisory

Topic

Updated file packages that fix multiple bugs are now available for Red Hat
Enterprise Linux 6.

Description

The file command is used to identify a particular file according to the type of
data contained in the file. The command can identify various file types,
including ELF binaries, system libraries, RPM packages, and different graphics
formats.

This update fixes the following bugs:

• Previously, the file utility contained "magic" patterns that incorrectly

detected files according to one byte only. Unicode text files starting with that
particular byte could be therefore incorrectly recognized as DOS executable
files. This update removes the problematic patterns. Patterns that match less
than 16 bits are no longer accepted, and the utility no longer detects Unicode
files as DOS executables. (BZ#688136)

• Previously, the "magic" pattern for detection of Dell BIOS headers was

outdated. As a consequence, the file utility did not detect newer BIOS formats.
The "magic" pattern has been updated, and the file utility now detects new
formats of Dell BIOS properly. (BZ#709846)

• Previously, users were allowed to add new "magic" files only into the home

directory. As a consequence, users were not able to configure "magic" patterns
for certain special file formats system-wide. With this update, a backported
patch provides a way to read "magic" patterns from the /etc/magic file.
(BZ#719583)

• Previously, "magic" patterns for Python were insufficient. The file utility

was therefore unable to detect a Python script according to the Python function
definition. With this update, detection of Python is improved, and Python
scripts are properly recognized. (BZ#733229)

• Previously, the file utility did not contain a "magic" pattern for detection

of files compressed using the LZMA algorithm. As a consequence, the file utility
was unable to detect these files. This update adds the missing "magic" pattern,
and LZMA compressed files are now detected as expected. (BZ#747999)

• Previously, the file utility did not contain a "magic" pattern to detect the

swap signature on Itanium microprocessors. As a consequence, the file utility
was unable to detect the signature. This update adds the missing "magic"
pattern, and the swap signature on Itanium microprocessors is detected as
expected. (BZ#758109)

• Previously, the file utility did not parse the name of an RPM package from the

RPM file. As a consequence, the utility did not print the name of the RPM
package. This update adds a "magic" pattern for RPM package name parsing, and
the name is now printed as expected. (BZ#760083)

All users of file are advised to upgrade to these updated packages, which fix
these bugs.

Solution

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

This update is available via the 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 6 x86_64
• Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server 6 i386
• Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server - Extended Life Cycle Support 6 x86_64
• Red Hat Enterprise Linux Workstation 6 x86_64
• Red Hat Enterprise Linux Workstation 6 i386
• Red Hat Enterprise Linux Desktop 6 x86_64
• Red Hat Enterprise Linux Desktop 6 i386
• Red Hat Enterprise Linux for IBM z Systems 6 s390x
• Red Hat Enterprise Linux for Power, big endian 6 ppc64
• Red Hat Enterprise Linux for Scientific Computing 6 x86_64
• Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server from RHUI 6 x86_64
• Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server from RHUI 6 i386
• Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server - Extended Life Cycle Support 6 i386
• Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server - Extended Life Cycle Support (for IBM z Systems) 6 s390x
• Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server - Extended Life Cycle Support Extension 6 x86_64
• Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server - Extended Life Cycle Support Extension 6 i386
• Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server - Extended Life Cycle Support Extension (for IBM z Systems) 6 s390x

Fixes

• BZ - 688136 - A Korean text file is classified as a DOS executable file
• BZ - 733229 - specific python script looks like PASCAL program
• BZ - 747999 - recognize lzma-compressed files
• BZ - 758109 - file is not able to detect swap signature on ia64

CVEs

(none)

References

(none)