RHBA-2016:0038 - Bug Fix Advisory

Topic

Updated findutils packages that fix two bugs are now available for Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6.

Description

The findutils packages contain programs to locate files on the system. The "find" utility searches through a hierarchy of directories looking for files that match a certain set of criteria, such as the file name pattern. The xargs utility builds and executes command lines from standard input arguments.

This update fixes the following bugs:

• Previously, while searching, the "find" utility did not use the file type information that the kernel interface for listing directories provides for each directory entry. This necessitated additional stat() system calls to obtain the file type, which caused a significant slowdown when traversing large NFS directories. With this update, "find" uses the file type information provided by the kernel. As a result, "find" uses fewer stat() system calls and traverses large NFS directories much faster. (BZ#883285)
• Previously, if the "find" utility was run with the -execdir option, it did not close file descriptors after using them. Consequently, the limit of open file descriptors was exceeded. With this update, "find" releases unused file descriptors. As a result, "find -execdir" no longer excessively consumes file descriptors. (BZ#1223557)

Users of findutils 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.

For details on how to apply this update, refer to:

https://access.redhat.com/articles/11258

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 Server - Extended Life Cycle Support 6 i386
• 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 - 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 - 659730 - Manual page corrections for find
• BZ - 883285 - find command is too slow with "-type f" option due to excessive newfstatat system calls
• BZ - 1223557 - 'find -execdir' opens too many file descriptors

CVEs

(none)

References

• http://www.redhat.com/security/updates/classification/#normal