RHSA-2005:068 - Security Advisory

Topic

An updated less package that fixes segmentation fault when viewing binary
files is now available.

Description

The less utility is a text file browser that resembles more, but has
extended capabilities.

Victor Ashik discovered a heap based buffer overflow in less, caused by a
patch added to the less package in Red Hat Enterprise Linux 3. An attacker
could construct a carefully crafted file that could cause less to crash or
possibly execute arbitrary code when opened. The Common Vulnerabilities
and Exposures project (cve.mitre.org) has assigned the name CAN-2005-0086
to this issue. Note that this issue only affects the version of less
distributed with Red Hat Enterprise Linux 3.

Red Hat believes that the Exec-Shield technology (enabled by default since
Update 3) will block attempts to remotely exploit this vulnerability on x86
architectures.

All users of the less package should upgrade to this updated package,
which resolves this issue.

Solution

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

To update all RPMs for your particular architecture, run:

rpm -Fvh [filenames]

where [filenames] is a list of the RPMs you wish to upgrade. Only those
RPMs which are currently installed will be updated. Those RPMs which are
not installed but included in the list will not be updated. Note that you
can also use wildcards (*.rpm) if your current directory *only* contains
the
desired RPMs.

Please note that this update is also available via Red Hat Network. Many
people find this an easier way to apply updates. To use Red Hat Network,
launch the Red Hat Update Agent with the following command:

up2date

This will start an interactive process that will result in the appropriate
RPMs being upgraded on your system.

Affected Products

• Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server 3 x86_64
• Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server 3 ia64
• Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server 3 i386
• Red Hat Enterprise Linux Workstation 3 x86_64
• Red Hat Enterprise Linux Workstation 3 ia64
• Red Hat Enterprise Linux Workstation 3 i386
• Red Hat Enterprise Linux Desktop 3 x86_64
• Red Hat Enterprise Linux Desktop 3 i386
• Red Hat Enterprise Linux for IBM z Systems 3 s390x
• Red Hat Enterprise Linux for IBM z Systems 3 s390
• Red Hat Enterprise Linux for Power, big endian 3 ppc

Fixes

• BZ - 145527 - CAN-2005-0086 less crashes on scrolling of binary files

CVEs

• CVE-2005-0086

References

(none)