Synopsis

Important: kernel security update

Type/Severity

Security Advisory: Important

Topic

Updated kernel packages that fix multiple security issues are now available
for Red Hat Enterprise Linux 4.7 Extended Update Support.

This update has been rated as having important security impact by the Red
Hat Security Response Team.

Description

The kernel packages contain the Linux kernel, the core of any Linux
operating system.

This update fixes the following security issues:

• a flaw was found in each of the following Intel PRO/1000 Linux drivers in

the Linux kernel: e1000 and e1000e. A remote attacker using packets larger
than the MTU could bypass the existing fragment check, resulting in
partial, invalid frames being passed to the network stack. These flaws
could also possibly be used to trigger a remote denial of service.
(CVE-2009-4536, CVE-2009-4538, Important)

• a flaw was found in the Realtek r8169 Ethernet driver in the Linux

kernel. Receiving overly-long frames with a certain revision of the network
cards supported by this driver could possibly result in a remote denial of
service. (CVE-2009-4537, Important)

Users should upgrade to these updated packages, which contain backported
patches to correct these issues. The system must be rebooted for this
update to take effect.

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
http://kbase.redhat.com/faq/docs/DOC-11259

Affected Products

• Red Hat Enterprise Linux for x86_64 - Extended Update Support 4.7 x86_64
• Red Hat Enterprise Linux for x86_64 - Extended Update Support 4.7 ia64
• Red Hat Enterprise Linux for x86_64 - Extended Update Support 4.7 i386
• Red Hat Enterprise Linux for IBM z Systems - Extended Update Support 4.7 s390x
• Red Hat Enterprise Linux for IBM z Systems - Extended Update Support 4.7 s390
• Red Hat Enterprise Linux for Power, big endian - Extended Update Support 4.7 ppc

Fixes

• BZ - 550907 - CVE-2009-4537 kernel: r8169 issue reported at 26c3
• BZ - 551214 - CVE-2009-4538 kernel: e1000e frame fragment issue
• BZ - 552126 - CVE-2009-4536 kernel: e1000 issue reported at 26c3

CVEs

• CVE-2009-4536
• CVE-2009-4537
• CVE-2009-4538

References